No matter how much the No. 16 UCLA’s women’s
volleyball team has struggled in the past, it has always been able
to pull through against one particular team. And regardless of how
impressively it has played at times in the last few years, it
hasn’t been able to beat another.
With inconsistency and injuries plaguing the Bruins (14-7, 7-4
Pac-10), a win over Cal on Friday is in more jeopardy than ever
while another loss to Stanford tonight will be less surprising than
usual.
The matches are not do-or-die for UCLA, but they still have huge
implications for conference standings.
“It won’t make or break our season, but it could
sure put us back in contention for second or third in the
Pac-10,” coach Andy Banachowski said.
The No. 12 Cardinal (15-6, 7-3 Pac-10) are vulnerable after
having lost their last two matches. Still, they have beaten the
Bruins seven consecutive times, including a 3-1 victory in October.
In that match, Cardinal outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani torched the
Bruins, recording 36 kills in the match.
Although, UCLA has never fallen to No. 11 Cal (12-7, 7-3) in the
two programs’ history, the Bears have been the team peaking
of late. Cal knocked off Stanford in five games last weekend while
receiving tremendous production as of late from freshman outside
hitter Angie Pressey.
A pair of wins against higher-ranked opponents will catapult
UCLA back into the upper echelon of the conference standings and
improve its seeding prospects for the NCAA tournament.
“If we get these wins, it will help us out a lot,”
Banachowski said. “You want to be playing your best at the
end of the season.”
But even just one win could go a long way toward restoring the
Bruins’ confidence. History foresees a victory over Cal. But
in this wildly inconsistent season for the Bruins, history may not
be the best predictor.
With reports from Colin Yuhl, Bruin Sports senior
staff.