The UCLA men’s volleyball team made its statement very
clear Wednesday night.
This year will be very different than last.
After being swept three times by the No. 4 Long Beach State a
year ago, the No. 1 Bruins eagerly returned the favor, sweeping the
49ers 30-21, 30-21, 30-28 for the second time this season.
“The match was inspiring,” UCLA setter Dennis
Gonzalez said. “After our performance last season, I really
appreciated the opportunity to beat them.”
But that wasn’t the only reason Gonzalez was motivated
Wednesday night.
Earlier in the day, Gonzalez had learned that his grandfather
had been taken to the hospital and was in critical condition.
Dedicating his performance to his grandfather, Gonzalez led an
inspired and emotional Bruin bunch which smothered Long Beach State
from the opening point.
“The match overall was extremely gratifying,” said
Gonzalez, who was visibly crying after the match. “To
overcome the 49ers after hearing about my grandfather was huge for
me psychologically.”
And thanks to Gonzalez and his 37 assists, Bruin hitters had a
feast at the net.
UCLA hit .410 for the match, recording five service aces and
amassing a season-high 15 team blocks on the night.
“Anytime you can serve and block like we did, we’re
going to be difficult beat,” UCLA coach Al Scates said.
The greatest indication of the Bruins’ blocking prowess
was Long Beach State’s hitting numbers. The 49ers committed
27 hitting errors and combined for a paltry .208 hitting average,
well below their season average.
“They could only get to one hitter,” middle blocker
Allan Vince said. “Other than that, we were able to stop
them.”
The Bruins’ blocking presence proved vital in the third
game, when the Bruins were down 18-11 and searching for a way to
climb back into the game.
UCLA turned to Paul Johnson, who had a key block down the
stretch and hit the game-winning kill en route to securing a 30-28
victory in game three and a sweep of the 49ers.
“Anytime you have blocking like that, you have a great
chance to come back,” Scates said.
Along with his effort in game three, Johnson and Vince’s
shoring up the middle of the court proved pivotal in the win.
The middle blockers hit a combined .696 and held the
49ers’ top hitter, Yassir Sliti, to a -.182 hitting
percentage.
“When you see someone block one, its like a drug,”
Vince said. “You want to try one yourself.”
But the night undeniably belonged to Gonzalez.
The starting setter for the Bruins’ team that lost to the
49ers in the playoffs last season, Wednesday’s match held a
special importance for a variety of reasons.
“I didn’t get to play against them earlier this
season,” Gonzalez said. “And I didn’t like the
way we finished against them last season.
“I finally got my payback tonight.”
The Bruins have now defeated three top-five teams this season,
and, in many ways, put behind many of their tough losses last
season, still maintaining this season is different than
last’s.