Men’s volleyball sweeps LMU
Nygaard tallies 23 kills as Bruins win
15-4, 15-8, 15-7
By Eric Branch
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
It was David and Goliath, without the slingshot.
The 15th-ranked Loyola Marymount Lions men’s volleyball team
entered Pauley Pavilion last night fired up and carrying some hope
of upsetting top-ranked UCLA. However, at some point during the
Bruins’ one hour and 45 minute, 15-4, 15-8, 15-7 shellacking, the
Lions realized that spunk and wishful thinking were no match for
the plethora of volleyball talent across the net.
On that night UCLA (4-0 overall) soundly outhit (.384 to .230)
and outblocked (13 to 7) Loyola (1-3), however interesting the
Lions made things – for a while anyway. The Bruins did not register
their first point in the initial game until after 27 sideouts. Down
at that point 0-2 they reeled off 15 of the next 17 points to take
the first frame. Senior quick hitter Jeff Nygaard (match-high 23
kills, .600 hitting percentage) paced the Bruins with eight
kills.
"I was pleased that we stayed so patient in that game," UCLA
head coach Al Scates said. "The main thing for us is to sideout. If
we stay with a team long enough we will eventually break through
because of our ability to block and dig."
In the final two frames Loyola managed to keep things close
early on before folding like a tortilla. The Lions were knotted at
7-7 in both games, helped in large part by senior outside hitter
Jason McEntee (team-high 21 kills), before the Bruins took over
both games. Sophomore opposite hitter Paul Nihipali registered 17
of his 22 kills in the final two frames.
"They came out really fired up and ready to play," UCLA junior
setter Stein Metzger (58 assists, eight digs) said. "But eventually
they came back down to their level and we were ready to jump on
them."
Senior swing hitter Kevin Wong posted 13 kills for the Bruins
while fellow senior swing hitter Erik Sullivan picked up eight
digs. Nygaard and senior quick hitter John Speraw led the team with
four blocks apiece.