On February 1, 2004, the then-No. 3 Bruins entered their biggest
match up of the season, hosting then-No. 1 Pepperdine.
The match was significant as the Bruins defeated the top-ranked
Waves, propelling UCLA to the top of the national rankings. The
Bruins finished that season ranked No. 3, and the Waves never
regained their No. 1 spot, falling as far down as No. 6 in the
nation.
Nearly a year later, the tables have turned, with the top-ranked
Bruins (5-0, 2-0 MPSF) looking to hold onto their No. 1 ranking
against an eager and formidable opponent.
But to UCLA coach Al Scates, it’s the Waves (2-0, 2-0
MPSF) that have all the pressure.
“If I remember correctly, we’re the team on
top,” Scates said. “We’re not the ones that
should be worried.”
The Bruins, ranked No. 1 in both polls for the first time this
season, are coming off a 3-0 victory over UC Irvine on Saturday and
are one of only four undefeated teams left in the top 15 of the
coaches’ poll.
In the path of the Bruins’ undefeated season are the Waves
and their top hitter Sean Rooney, who was recently named the AVCA
National Player of the Week.
Rooney has been averaging an astounding 6.67 kills per game in
the Waves’ two matches so far this season, and, at six feet
and nine inches tall, he presents a very imposing match up for the
Bruins.
“Our main focus is to stop Rooney,” senior outside
hitter Jonathan Acosta said.
“If we can do that, I am very confident we can beat the
Waves.”
Up to the task will be sophomore Steve Klosterman and middle
blocker Paul Johnson, who both faced Rooney last season.
“We didn’t do very well against him last
season,” Klosterman said. “But we still beat them
twice, and we just have to do the same this season.”
The glaring difference between the Bruins and the Waves is
UCLA’s ability to spread the ball around.
The Bruins have five hitters averaging more than 2.4 kills per
game and have had three different players lead them in kills this
season.
“Our opponents never know who is going to get the
ball,” Scates said. “Shoot, I never know who is going
to even get the ball.”
Even Klosterman, whose hitting numbers are down considerably
from last season, has recognized the difference in the team.
“The hardest teams to stop are the ones that are balanced,
and if that means I have to take a step back, I’ll do it for
the betterment of the team.”
The Bruins have been accomplishing their gaudy offensive numbers
while starting two freshmen at libero and setter, the two skill
positions on the court.
Until now, the freshmen, Tony Ker and Gaby Acevedo, have made
the transition slowly while playing in Canada and against MPSF
doormat UCI twice.
However, all that changes Wednesday against Pepperdine.
The Waves have already defeated two top-ten teams in the past
week and are looking to avenge last year’s loss to the
Bruins.
“We’re going to be pretty pumped up,”
Klosterman said. “We don’t want to be the ones falling
from the top this year.”