After two consecutive thrilling five-game road victories, the
UCLA women’s volleyball team returns home this weekend to try
to extend its three-match win-streak against Washington State and
Washington.
The No. 21 Bruins (14-8, 6-6) will face the Cougars (1-12, 8-18)
at Pauley Pavilion Friday at 7 p.m., and will take on the No. 2
Huskies (22-0, 12-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday.
If the Bruins do what is expected of them and beat a struggling
Washington State team on Friday, UCLA coach Andy Banachowski will
have his first shot at his 1,000th win when the Bruins face
Washington.
While the Bruins have owned the Huskies historically, going
38-10 all-time against Washington, the story has been much
different in the last two years.
UCLA has lost their last three meetings to Washington which
included a 3-0 Husky sweep of the Bruins in October.
With Washington in the midst of their best women’s
volleyball season in their history, it would take a gallant effort
from the Bruins to pull off the upset.
In 18 out of the Huskies’ 22 victories this year, their
opponents have not won a single game.
“Everybody has to contribute for us to be
successful,” the Bruin coach said.
“That’s what its going to be about if we’re
going to be able to pull out an upset against
Washington.”
If there is one thing that the Bruins do have on their side
heading into the weekend, it is the confidence that they can come
from behind to win close matches.
The Bruins were behind 10-7 in the deciding fifth game against
Oregon and 11-7 against Pepperdine in the fifth game. In both
matches, UCLA saved its best for last coming back with a to take
home a 15-13 victory in the final game against Oregon and a 17-15
win in the last game against Pepperdine.
“I think that (the Pepperdine match) gave us a lot of
momentum going into the weekend,” junior middle blocker Nana
Meriwether said.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to beat Washington State
and have even more momentum when we play Washington on Saturday
night.”
If the Bruins want to come away with victories this weekend
though, they will once again have to do so without the services of
Colby Lyman, who suffered a partial tear to the ligament in her
right elbow in a match against the Oregon State Beavers last
Thursday and will be out of action for at least three weeks, and
possibly the rest of the season.
“I think that the team realizes that everybody has to step
up and make a huge effort to do what Colby does for us,”
Banachowski said.
“They’re learning what is expected of each and every
one of them, and everybody is starting to pull her own
weight.”
With reports from Michael Wozny, Bruin Sports
reporter.