Friday, 4/11/97
Matadors’ cape can’t hold back Bruins’ charge in 3-0 sweep
UCLA takes control after falling behind in first game
By Vytas Mazeika
and Jennifer Kollenborn
Daily Bruin Contributors
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — The more things change, the more they stay
the same.
Although the top-ranked UCLA men’s volleyball team did not
dominate No. 14 Cal State Northridge they way they did back in
January, the Bruins still swept the match, 15-12, 15-10, 15-7.
UCLA (19-3, 15-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) got off to
a quick start by taking a 5-0 lead. But the Bruins could not
duplicate January’s 15-0 thrashing in the first game. CSUN (14-12,
8-10) stormed back to take 7-6 lead and eventually extended it to
9-7.
But the Bruins fought back and overcame eight service errors to
take a 14-10 advantage. But a desperate Matador team – needing a
victory to remain in playoff contention – fought off three game
points before succumbing 15-12 in the first game.
"This was life or death for Northridge," UCLA head coach Al
Scates said. "This pretty much knocks them out of the playoffs.
They upped their level. They were going after everything."
UCLA did not appear in sync the entire match. Three hard days of
practice contributed contributed to its lethargic performance.
But UCLA true freshman Adam Naeve, whose blistering .560 hitting
percentage led the team, believes that the uninspired performance
was dictated by more of a mental factor.
"The first time we played this team we killed them," Naeve said.
"And I think we came a out a little too lackadaisical, not
expecting too much. Just expecting to roll through."
As the match wore on, though, UCLA seemed to have more firepower
than the Matadors. The Bruins outhit their opponent .344 to .137,
outblocked them 11-7 and began to dominate in the third game.
"I am a little worried about the lack of fight in the third
game," CSUN head coach John Price said.
A very big reason for the Bruins’ blocking superiority was the
inability of Matador senior Jason Hughes to get on track. Hughes
hit an embarrassing -.133 and was benched in the third game.
"(UCLA is) a pretty big blocking team and when they do not have
to worry about one half they can load up on the other half," Price
said. "Hughes not attacking well made it really simple for
them."
But things will not be as simple for UCLA when they travel to
Santa Barbara and face off against No. 8 UCSB (15-7, 11-5) this
Saturday.
The Gauchos barely outlasted UCLA in a rally scoring fifth game,
15-13. UCSB proceeded to hand UCLA one of its only three losses on
the season.
Both coaches agree that the match will be competitive, as both
teams have had time to improve since their previous meeting Jan.
31.
"We’re playing pretty good volleyball at the moment," UCSB head
coach Ken Preston said. "UCLA is doing the best they possibly can
with the talent they have, so I’d say both teams are playing more
to their capabilities right now."
Just this past week UCSB showed its improvement with a sweep of
UC Irvine. UCSB’s Donny Harris hit an outstanding .622 from the
outside. Harris averages a league leading 7.5 kills per game.
"Donny Harris is unstoppable, Scates said. He is on fire and we
are going to be looking for him."