After seeing a two-games-to-none lead evaporate in a 3-2 loss to
No. 7 Stanford, maybe now Bruin supporters can understand the
plight of Red Sox and Cubs fans.
Though it may not be the Curse of the Bambino or Goat, No. 11
UCLA fell apart after letting a golden opportunity to sweep the
Cardinal in Maples Pavilion slip away, winning the first two games
30-28 and 30-24, then dropping the next three 30-28, 30-24,
15-11.
“We’re down and not feeling really good about
ourselves right now,” coach Andy Banachowski said.
Interestingly enough, the last time the Cardinal was swept at
home was Sept. 23, 2000, by the Bruins. But, there would be no
repeat of that for UCLA.
In the first two games, everything went the Bruins’ (13-4,
5-3 Pac-10) way. They pulled away from the Cardinal (14-3, 7-1)
late in the first, and then dominated them in the second game,
hitting .306 as a team. The latter moments of a tense third game,
however, proved to be the deciding points of the match.
Up 27-25, only three points away from sweeping the Cardinal at
home, the Bruins failed to capitalize on their chances.
“They made some big plays at the end there,”
Banachowski said. “The disappointing thing is that we
didn’t respond well and play better ourselves.”
With all the momentum now squarely behind them, Stanford cruised
to a win in the fourth game and then sealed the victory with a
strong performance in the fifth.
One key adjustment Stanford made was substituting senior setter
Anna Robinson for sophomore Katie Goldhahn after the second game.
The Cardinal’s sluggish offense responded to the move,
dashing any hopes for an upset by UCLA. Ogonna Nnamani had 23 kills
for Stanford despite a pedestrian .181 hitting percentage.
Banachowski also cited late-game fatigue as a reason for the
Bruins’ late-match collapse.
“We got tired and starting showing the effects a long
match here.”
Junior Brynn Murphy led UCLA with 19 kills and .295 hitting to
go along with 10 digs, one solo and seven assisted blocks. Junior
Brittany Ringel played her best match since returning from injury,
notching 13 kills on .323 hitting.
The Bruins cannot dwell on this loss for too long. Their next
match is against undefeated No. 5 California, a team that has never
beaten UCLA in its history and is aching to end that streak.
“Tomorrow is another day,” Banachowski said.
“We have a chance to play a higher-ranked team and to beat
them. It will be tough, though, because Cal is fresh and we are
not.”