John Speraw isn’t in the business of making bold statements. When the UCLA men’s volleyball coach heaps praise onto an opposing player, he means it.
After watching Long Beach State outside hitter Taylor Crabb slam 29 kills in a four-set win over the Bruins Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion, Speraw put the volleyball world on notice.
“(Crabb) might be one of the better attackers I’ve seen in this league, ever,” Speraw said. “I don’t think it’s a stretch. You can have a game plan against him, but he just sees the block and hits so many shots at such range that it’s difficult to defend everything he does.”
Slowing down Crabb was the No. 1 priority coming into this match for the No. 2 Bruins (10-3, 7-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation). Even with a game plan designed to limit Crabb, the MPSF leader in kills was able to explode for 17 kills and 0 errors in the first two sets alone, both of which the 49ers won.
“We couldn’t figure out how to stop him in the first two (sets),” said senior outside hitter Gonzalo Quiroga. “It’s hard to play against a player like that; he hits the ball faster than anyone else in the country.”
The Bruins were able to hold off Crabb and bounce back in the third set after losing the first two, with freshman setter/libero Hagen Smith providing energy off the bench after coming on for redshirt junior setter Michael Beals.
“We needed a little bit more fire and that’s what I can bring. I went out there to inspire the guys,” Smith said. “When I got on the court, I was a little nervous a little bit, but once things started flowing, I got into it and things started happening.”
The Bruins won the third set and set themselves up to win the fourth with a big lead early in that set, but a late rally by Long Beach State closed off the match and prevented the game from going any farther.
“We had that fire, but it’s hard keeping that fire when we had such a lead,” Smith said. “When they aren’t knocking at your door the whole time you can get a little relaxed, and that’s when things get dangerous. … In the end, we didn’t have as much fire as they did.”
Speraw said after the match that Smith’s performance may have earned him a start on Friday against No. 13 Cal State Northridge, though a decision is not final.
The Bruins will be grateful for the quick turnaround in between games as they look to rebound after their first home defeat of the season. As long as Crabb doesn’t suit up for the Matadors, the Bruins have a chance of doing just that.