This three-day Presidents Day weekend was no party for the men’s volleyball team. The bulk of the No. 7 Bruins’ weekend consisted of volleyball, volleyball and more volleyball.
Friday and Saturday saw action against Bay Area teams University of Pacific and Stanford, Sunday was a travel and recuperation day, and Monday was no let-up either, with full practice and weight training at night.
In mid-season and hoping to accumulate more wins, the Bruins (8-7, 6-6 MPSF) have been running on all cylinders this weekend in preparation for tonight’s showdown against No. 10 Cal State Northridge (8-7, 6-4).
“We need to get above .500,” libero Tony Ker said. “We’re just determined to win everything we can right now. Our main goal is to get a little bit better every time we practice, every time we play, and get our record up so we can make another run at the championship.”
The last time the two teams met in January, the Bruins pulled out a close five-game win, which hinged on a surprise factor: Opposite Steve Klosterman started as a middle blocker and his efficiency opened up the outside game.
This time around, however, there are no such tricks up UCLA’s sleeve. Instead, the Bruins will rely on their development and growth as a team one month older and wiser.
“I think we’re much better than the last time we played them,” Ker said. “Steve is playing much better at the opposite right now. He went off when we played against Stanford. If he has another match like that and our outside hitters keep playing great and our middle blockers keep doing what they have to do, we don’t need any tricks.”
“We’re definitely a lot better than (we were at) the January match,” outside hitter Paul George said. “But you have to assume that they are, too. We’re really doing some things well, but we have our work cut out for us.”
Taking down the feisty Northridge team again will be no easy feat. The past two matches played in Pauley Pavilion have gone the Matadors’ way, each with five-game upsets. The Bruins are determined not to let history repeat itself tonight.
“They’ve been very strong these past couple of years, so it’s been competitive,” UCLA coach Al Scates said. “We got a five-game win at their place, and it could go five again. We’d just be happy to beat them ““ (it) doesn’t matter how many games we go.”
There are many standout players for the Matadors, any of which could be the go-to guy tonight. Dan Rhodes currently leads the team with .346 kill percentage, while Eric Vance led the Matadors with 18 kills in the last matchup. Outside hitter Isaac Kneubuhl led the team in hitting efficiency in the January match, with a clip of .440. But rather than focus on any one individual, UCLA is most concerned with the fire and passion this Matador team has.
“Typically Northridge is a team with a lot of heart, a lot more heart than most other teams in the conference,” George said. “It’s gonna be another gut-out match, give it everything you’ve got and leave it on the floor, or they’re gonna walk away with the win.”