After a season of heavy reliance on his freshmen, UCLA men’s volleyball coach Al Scates is looking for more of the same next year.
Last Monday, he announced the signing of 20-year-old Israeli National Team member Chen Levitan. Scates had a commitment from the player, but did not want to announce his signing until he was sure Levitan would be released from his service with the Israeli army in time for fall quarter.
Levitan will be released from the Israel Defense Forces just in time to arrive at UCLA for welcome week.
“He will be here the day after he gets out (of the army),” Scates said.
In his time with the Junior National Team, Levitan played outside hitter. However, with the national team, he has been playing opposite. Scates said that because Levitan also had experience at quick hitter, the incoming freshman has the versatility to play three different positions.
Levitan’s position with the Bruins, Scates said, will depend on rising sophomore Thomas Amberg’s progress this summer.
Amberg spent considerable time starting at quick hitter for the Bruins this past year, but was an outside hitter in high school. In his time practicing with the U.S. Under-20 National Team this summer, Amberg has been playing opposite.
“We’re just trying to get the best six guys on the floor, I’m not sure (who),” Scates said. “We have some options.”
Amberg indicated he is ready to make any position changes necessary to win.
“Any player who can come in and help our team win a national championship is good by me,” he said.
As an added plus to his versatility, Levitan gives the Bruins a considerable amount of international experience. Having played for the Israeli Junior National Team as well as the Israeli National Team, Levitan garnered significant playing time.
“He has more experience than anybody we have, far more experience,” Scates said.
Despite Levitan having to get a release from the Israeli army to attend UCLA in the fall, Scates said that the university did not make any special arrangements.
JET-SETTING BRUINS: Along with fellow rising sophomore Nick Vogel, Amberg has been training with the U.S. Junior National Team in Chula Vista for the past several weeks and will leave for Pune, India, later this week to compete in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball World Championship from July 31 to Aug. 7.
With the Junior National Team, Amberg has been training at opposite, a change from his position as quick hitter this past year for the Bruins.
“It’s good to get a good repertoire of positions,” Amberg said. “The plan at UCLA is for me to play outside hitter next season, so hopefully that will work out as the season goes on.”
Scates said that Vogel has been starting for the Junior National Team at quick hitter.
Though Vogel has been hoping to visit India for years to experience the culture, he said that this trip will be a different experience.
“It’s not quite the same trip I was planning with my father,” Vogel said. “But it will be a good little preview of what I’m going to get to see.”
Amberg said he does not quite know what to expect.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Amberg said. “Hopefully I can learn a lot because, with UCLA, we’re going to Argentina soon also, so I could use some international experience.”
The Bruins will be visiting Argentina from Sept. 6 to Sept. 19, Amberg explained. Since 1979, the Bruins have been traveling to a foreign country to face off against international professional teams.
Scates said he will choose 14 returning players to take on this trip.
The NCAA has banned teams from making international trips more than once in four years. Having gone to Italy four years ago, Scates said that the Bruins are now due for their next trip.
“It’s a big confidence builder if we can beat these guys,” Scates said. “We usually have great results in the season.”
After their Italy trip in September 2005, the Bruins went on to win the NCAA Championship in May 2006.
While in Argentina, Scates plans to play as many as 10 professional teams with budgets upward of $5 million, annually.
“These are the best players in the world,” Scates said.
Scates explained that another positive is that his team will be allowed two extra weeks of practice time by the NCAA during the offseason to prepare for the two weeks in Argentina.
The trip is not financed by the UCLA athletic department. In years past, the men’s volleyball team had gained sponsorships from businesses, but this year will be entirely funded by private boosters.