W. VOLLEYBALL Today, 8 p.m. UAB Pauley
Pavilion
Now the real test begins.
A triumphant 2006 regular season has given the UCLA
women’s volleyball team a great chance to make a run deep
into the postseason.
The Bruins are seeded in the top four for the first time since
1994, which was also the last year UCLA went to the Final Four.
As No. 4 UCLA (29-3, 15-3 Pac-10) heads into tonight’s
first-round match against the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(27-9, 10-6 Conference USA), the Bruins have set high aspirations
for themselves.
“We’re going into this tournament with the best team
so far that I’ve played on,” senior Colby Lyman
said.
By earning the No. 4 seed, UCLA has set itself up for some
interesting matchups.
Should UCLA advance to Regional play in Honolulu, the Bruins
could be matched up with No. 5 USC ““ which UCLA has already
beaten twice this season ““ in the regional final for a spot
in the Final Four.
“Our bracket is very beatable,” senior middle
blocker Nana Meriwether said. “But you can’t take any
team for granted. It’s championships, so people are going to
play differently and more aggressively. It’s going to be
tough.”
On paper, UCLA shouldn’t have any problem with UAB
tonight. The Bruins have a better record and have faced much
tougher opponents than the Blazers have this season.
But the Blazers, after a slow start in conference play, have
been blazing hot as of late.
After starting Conference USA play with a measly 2-6 record,
something started to click for UAB.
The Blazers went on to win their last eight matches of
Conference USA play and finished third in the conference.
UAB went on to defeat Central Florida, Tulane, top-seeded Tulsa
and Memphis in the Conference USA Tournament and captured the
highly coveted automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
“They’re certainly going to be playing with a lot of
confidence,” UCLA coach Andy Banachowski said.
“That’s an amazing run to win that many games.
We’re facing a hot team.”
The Bruins, meanwhile, wrapped up their season with four
consecutive victories against USC, Pepperdine, Oregon State and
Oregon after falling to No. 2 Stanford in Maples Pavilion.
OTHER NOTES: If the Bruins defeat the Blazers
tonight, it will mark the first time that the Bruins have reached
the 30-win mark in a season since 1994. … Senior middle blocker
Nana Meriwether finished the season leading the nation with a .459
hitting percentage. Meriwether was also tied for first in blocking,
with 1.94 blocks per game. … Sophomore setter Nellie Spicer ended
the season fifth in the nation in assists with 13.66 per game.
Spicer’s assist numbers were the top mark among sophomores
and freshmen. … Prior to the UCLA-UAB game, which begins at 8
p.m. in Pauley Pavilion, Utah will take on Michigan State at 5:30
p.m. Students can buy all-session tickets for $10 or $6 single-game
tickets to any of the matches.