Volleyball embarks on the road to Austin
UCLA’s quest for Final Four in Austin begins against Georgia
Tech University
By Eric Branch
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
After a program accumulates six national championships, 24
consecutive playoff appearances and a national ranking of No. 4 or
higher in 19 of the past 23 years, it would seeming prone to
complacency.
However, on the eve of the second round of the NCAA
Championships, the No. 3 UCLA women’s volleyball team (28-3
overall, 16-2 in Pac-10) is plenty hungry. When a team has a year
to contemplate how last year’s 30-2 version was upended in the NCAA
quarterfinals by Brigham Young in Wooden Center, anger overrides
complacency. Usually soft-spoken Pac-10 Player of the Year Annett
Buckner is proof of that.
"We want to make sure what happened last year doesn’t happen
again," Buckner said. "I’ll make sure no one forgets."
The Bruins begin their run for redemption Saturday at 7 p.m.in
Pauley Pavilion against unranked Georgia Tech (25-8, 11-3 in
Atlantic Coast Conference). The Yellow Jackets are making their
first ever NCAA tournament appearance. While the ACC is not exactly
a hotbed of volleyball talent, Georgia Tech enters Westwood as
winners of eight of their last nine matches. As the Bruins enjoyed
a first-round bye, the Yellow Jackets upended George Mason, 15-10,
15-11, 5-15, 15-5, Wednesday night to reach Saturday’s second
round.
Bruin head coach Andy Banachowski knows a little about Georgia
Tech head coach Shelton Collier’s style from their coaching
together with the U.S National team.
"Shelton is an excellent coach and he runs a good program,"
Banachowski said. "They run a real aggressive, attacking
offense."
Indeed, after enduring an 8-30 campaign in 1990, Tech is 107-40
since Collier took over in 1991. As a result of Collier’s
aggressive offensive style, Georgia Tech is ranked fourth in the
nation in kills per game (14.46). This year’s relentless attack is
spearheaded by junior outside hitter Cris Omiecinski who leads the
Jackets in kills and ranks second in digs. Junior middle blocker
Kerry Annel leads the Yellow Jackets in hitting percentage and
blocks while ranking second in kills.
* * *
Two Bruins were named to the First Team Pac-10 All-Academic
team. Sophomore setter Kelly Flannigan was recognized for her 3.51
GPA in physiological sciences. Senior middle blocker Alyson Randick
was recognized for her 3.17 GPA in environmental science.
Junior outside hitter and communications major Jenny Johnson was
named as Honorable Mention with a 3.09 GPA.