Chris Peña knows the UCLA men’s volleyball team has a
big weekend to look forward to in Provo, Utah, as it faces No. 3
BYU tonight and Saturday night.
Peña, a junior quick hitter, knows all about BYU’s
Smith Fieldhouse ““ a tiny arena that is always packed, and
always loud.
He knows all about the elevation in Provo, and how the higher
altitude has affected UCLA serving there in the past.
Despite what Peña knows, he isn’t fazed.
“It is a really a big weekend for us,” Peña
said. “I hear the altitude has an effect. Yes, the arena is
loud, small and overbearing, but you just have to block that out. I
play for all that”“ it doesn’t bother me.”
Peña and his teammates may not be affected by a high
pressure setting like Smith Fieldhouse, but they should note that
UCLA has not beat the Cougars (3-1, 3-1 Mountain Pacific Sports
Federation) in Provo since March of 1997.
“If you miss a serve, they play a soundbite from
“The Simpsons” of Homer saying,
“˜D’oh!,'” UCLA head coach Al Scates said.
“Everyone else (in the league) expects neutrality, and no one
else does stuff like that, so it’s a clear advantage.
It’s a great homecourt.”
The back-to-back matches also will not faze senior setter Rich
Nelson, despite the pinched nerve in his back.
“I don’t think it will really affect me that much,
I’ve been going day by day and my back feels good right
now,” Nelson said. “I’m hoping that in between
matches I’ll get some good treatment and I’ll be
fine.”
Last season UCLA (4-3, 1-2) and BYU split a pair of matches at
Pauley Pavilion.
BYU junior opposite Jonathan Alleman was named the American
Volleyball Coaches Association Division I/II Men’s Volleyball
Player of the Week January 20 after recording 60 kills, 7 blocks
and 12 digs in the Cougars’ two victories over Stanford Jan.
17 and 18.
To prepare for the higher elevation of Provo, the Bruins have
been practicing on a shortened court, as serves fly three feet
longer at BYU, according to Scates.
“We are trying to get in a longer practice up there and
get some extra serving practicing,” Nelson said.
Scates noted senior outside hitter Rafael Paal and senior
outside hitter Luka Slabe as two Cougars the Bruins will have to
contain. Paal posted 20 kills in BYU’s victory over Stanford
Jan. 17.
The daunting nature of this weekend’s matches seems to
entice the Bruins greatly.
“I think we are strong enough to do some damage up
there,” Scates said.