New tones replace old tunes at Pauley volleyball games

There’s a little known tradition at volleyball games in Pauley Pavilion. When matches go five sets, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” is blasted through the arena as players, coaches and fans sing along.

But Friday night’s five-set women’s volleyball match caught me, and the other 1,185 people in the stadium, off guard.

The fifth set opened without the mellow, romantic tune of “Sweet Caroline.” But game operations folks had a reason.

There was a band high up in Pauley Pavilion bumping tunes between points and during time-outs, warm-ups and intermission. The Fusion Music Group, a band composed of UCLA students, had seven members come together and play at both volleyball matches this week, a pleasant surprise for me and more importantly, women’s volleyball coach Andy Banachowski.

“It wasn’t the blue and gold UCLA marching band,” he said, “but it just creates a great atmosphere for a volleyball match. They caught me by surprise, but our marketing intern was able to get them in here.”

The Fusion Music Group has about 15 active members, UCLA student Richard Domurat said. The seven performing over the weekend in Pauley were just a small combo composed of band members.

Aside from Domurat on percussion, the band featured students Mikey Sassounian and Reeve Zemel on guitar, Max Krongaus on saxophone and flute, Eli Shkurkin on bass and Nitin Bajaj on percussion.

Until recently, the USC match was the only time a band would play in Pauley Pavilion, but after a little searching around UCLA’s musical scene, the athletics marketing department has been able to bring in some interesting and somewhat unusual bands.

Against Arizona on Nov. 15, 2008, UCLA’s Brazilian drum ensemble literally shook the bleachers with its beats. Both sophomore middle blocker Amanda Gil and Banachowski lauded the band’s presence after the match.

“It was amazing,” Gil said. “They got the crowd going. They got us going. I wish they would come to every game.”

Banachowski cited the drums as his favorite aspect.

“Having a band, especially with those guys with the drums, (helps) create just such a great collegiate atmosphere to play a sporting event in,” Banachowski said.

And in a sport as dependent on momentum and team energy, bands in volleyball matches are especially useful.

Fusion played everything from “Eye of the Tiger” to “Iron Man,” even playing the band’s own rendition of “Sons of Westwood.” During Friday’s match, when the Bruins started slipping in the third and fourth sets, the band was still jamming from the upper deck of the north side of Pauley, maintaining crowd energy.

After Saturday’s match, redshirt senior Kaitlin Sather, who has played more than 30 matches in Pauley, most of which were bandless, said she enjoyed Fusion’s presence for the weekend.

“I liked the band,” she said. “I thought they were really cool with the bass and saxophone. I thought they were really fun and different.”

With Krongaus playing both saxophone and flute, Fusion’s music offered a sound not often found in Pauley. Domurat told me that given the diversity of styles among the group’s membership, it is hard to define an exact genre.

“That’s the cool thing,” Domurat said. “Everyone is always trying to pick up different instruments. … We’re very eclectic.”

Used to hearing the echoes of “Sweet Caroline” in five-set matches, Sather said it was a welcome change not hearing the storied song.

“Last year, they actually lost a bunch of times to that song, so some of the girls felt like it was (bad),” she said.

The Bruins went 0-3 in five-set matches in Pauley last season.

So maybe Fusion’s presence at Friday’s match will mark a new tradition for UCLA volleyball games ““ having a different student band. The games would be able to showcase the university’s musical talent by featuring student groups and bands and also add an extra element of home-court advantage for the women’s volleyball team.

I don’t think Banachowski would mind.

“We’ve always felt that we needed to have a band in here to make some noise,” he said.

Domurat said the band will be playing their next home match on Nov. 13.

With reports from Eli Smukler, Bruin Sports senior staff.

If you’d like to join the Daily Bruin Sports staff in singing “Sweet Caroline” in the Bruin office, e-mail Mashhood at fmashhood@media.ucla.edu.

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