If the UCLA men’s volleyball team needed a remedy after
Saturday’s loss to Hawai’i, it couldn’t have
found a better opponent on Wednesday.
The Bruins (16-2, 12-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) faced
off against UC Irvine (6-13, 4-10), a team the Bruins had already
swept three times this season, and defeated the Anteaters in four
games 30-22, 16-30, 30-22, 31-29.
“UCI is getting better, but they are still working hard
toward making the (conference) playoffs,” UCLA coach Al
Scates said. “I thought we played a good match against them
tonight.”
The match on Wednesday was the Bruins’ first road game in
over three weeks and their first game since losing the conference
lead to Hawai’i on Saturday night.
“Any time you are coming off a loss like Hawai’i,
it’s really important to come out aggressive,” Scates
said. “I’m glad we’re able to come out strong
tonight before a large hostile crowd on the road.”
The Bruins’ aggressiveness showed through most in the
fourth game of the match, with the Bruins struggling and the match
on the verge of being sent to a fifth decisive game.
Falling behind early in the game, UCLA came back, led by
Jonathan Acosta. The redshirt senior outside hitter, who had been
replaced by Steve Klosterman earlier in the match, returned and
responded with five kills in the fourth game to help the Bruins win
31-29.
“With the game close at the end, it was really important
for our veteran leadership to step up,” Scates said. “I
was really glad Jonathan was able to come out aggressive and take
control after not playing so well earlier in the match.”
Despite UCLA’s hitting success in the fourth game, the
Bruins were nevertheless outhit by the Anteaters.
“They ran a real quick combination play that worked really
well for them,” Scates said.
The Bruins had six service aces to the Anteaters’ two, and
outblocked them 8-6.
“Our focus all week was on blocking and serving,”
Scates said. “The fact that UCI is a really good serving team
and they only had two aces is a real good indication of our passing
success.”
While it was Acosta’s Game 4 performance that was decisive
at the end of the game, it was Paul Johnson who paced the Bruins
throughout the night. The redshirt senior led the Bruins with 14
kills on the night.
“Our best player tonight was Paul Johnson,” Scates
said.
Kris Kraushaar, another senior, also had a big game, notching 12
kills on the night.
“You must rely on your veteran leadership to bring you
back, and I think our seniors have done a great job of that all
season,” Scates said.
With the victory on Wednesday, the Bruins have still yet to lose
back-to-back games this season and still are in good shape to
possibly host the MPSF Tournament at the end of the year.