Spikers heading to Northwest
By Eric Branch
Daily Bruin Staff
"The whole UCLA attitude nauseates me. Their whole attitude is
that there is nothing beyond Westwood and if anyone gives them any
trouble, they’re stunned. They probably don’t even know who they’re
playing."
-University of Washington head volleyball coach Bill Neville
Before playing the UCLA women’s volleyball team in September in
Pauley Pavilion, Bill Neville was nauseated. After UCLA squeaked
out a five-game victory against the Huskies to run their career
record against Washington to a perfect 24-0, Neville must have been
puking all the way back to Seattle.
However, as the No. 3 Bruins (21-2 overall, 11-1 in Pacific-10)
travel to the Northwest this weekend to take on No. 23 Washington
State (14-7, 6-5) and Washington (11-8, 6-5), the coaches’ stomach
has settled somewhat.
"You have to understand that for anyone outside their program
(UCLA), it’s frustrating," Neville said. "I mean, people
congratulated us on playing UCLA close early in the year. If we
lose I don’t want to be congratulated. Maybe a, ‘yo baby, nice
match’, but congratulations?
"There is a certain UCLA attitude and it’s positive for them and
negative for opponents. I had an opportunity to parlay that
attitude when I coached their players on the national team. Of
course, when I coached Karch (Kiraly) and the boys I thought the
attitude was fabulous."
In the course of a month, the fourth-year Washington coach has
changed his mind on some things. In fact, he even thinks that after
having a match point against the Bruins in Pauley, UCLA might even
know who they’re playing this weekend.
"I think they’ll know," Neville said. "When they come and see
that it’s gray and rainy I’m sure they’ll say, ‘Gee, we must be in
Seattle’."
The loquacious Neville is not averse to talking at length on any
subject- a practice which sometimes finds him trouble. After his
comments concerning the UCLA volleyball program, he was called in
to speak with UW administrators in a meeting which clearly failed
to leave him with an indelible impression.
"Yeah, I got ripped by my administrators," Neville said. "But
geez, we’ve got to fight here for volleyball quotes. I can’t be
macaroni and cheese. It’s like I tell my players, if you want to
get in the papers, put a mask on and perform armed robbery at the
local 7-11. Then maybe we’ll get volleyball in the newspapers."
As Neville prepares to break the Huskies 13-year losing streak
against the Bruins over the weekend, he does want to set the record
straight.
"Clearly I have a great respect for UCLA," Neville said.
"They’re a great program led by a great coach. But we have to try a
little something to get revved up over here."