To play 15 matches over the span of one month without seeing
your home court is no easy task.
To come out of those matches with a 15-0 record is something
else altogether.
Yet that is exactly what the UCLA women’s volleyball team
has done to open up the 2006 season. As the Bruins enter their home
opener with Washington tonight, they know the success of their
season will be defined by the way they finish.
But the start couldn’t possibly be more encouraging for a
young group of players who went through good and bad times last
season.
“I think the fact that we’re a year older has played
a great part in our good start,” coach Andy Banachowski said.
“Having Nana (Meriwether) healthy is a huge thing. …
She’s having a great year offensively. The addition of Ali
Daley into the lineup too has provided a big spark for
us.”
Daley, Katie Carter and Meriwether have been the stars
offensively for the Bruins early on in the season.
Daley, a sophomore transfer from Long Beach State, has made a
huge impact thus far in her first season with the Bruins.
The Big West Freshman of the Year last season, Daley is second
on the team in kills with 144 and has earned a key role in the
Bruin attack. She was honored as UCLA’s Student-Athlete of
the Week last week for her stellar performances in wins at Oregon
and Oregon State.
Carter, a senior hitter who emerged as a force for UCLA last
season, has continued to impress in 2006. She has contributed 142
kills this season.
But it’s been Meriwether, a senior middle blocker, who has
been the heart and soul of the Bruins in the early going this
season.
A productive player throughout her UCLA career, Meriwether
played through the pain of a torn labrum last season, but still put
forth excellent production.
This year, a healthy Meriwether has put up numbers that have
been off the charts. Her .557 hitting percentage is by far the top
mark in the nation. Meriwether also leads the team in kills (190)
and blocks (72).
“I’ve been clicking with my setter (Nellie Spicer)
more efficiently; the passing’s great; the defense is great
““ it’s just the combination of our team maturing and
providing me the ability to be more effective,” Meriwether
said.
“Last year with (Meriwether’s) shoulder, I
didn’t want to overuse her too much because I would see her
in pain, and I just don’t want to bring that upon my
teammates,” sophomore setter Spicer said. “This year,
she feels good and we’ve just been able to run really
smoothly with each other.”
Spicer has been no slouch herself. She had to battle just to win
the starting position last season and spent the year getting
acclimated to her teammates and the college game.
This year, she is second in the nation in assists per game and
has been a cornerstone of the team’s success.
“The one thing that I think has helped the most this year
is having that first year under my belt,” Spicer said.
“Last year I felt like I had to prove myself. … This year I
feel like I can come in and start with a quick offense right away
and fix our tempo. I feel like I know more about the game now.
I’m able to help the hitters out a lot more by having control
of the court.”
The Bruins still have a lot of work to do as a unit, but after a
long grueling stretch on the road to open the season, they’re
glad to be back home for now.
“It’s so nice just to be back at school,”
Spicer said. “Definitely all of our bodies are a little
tired. It’s just a relief to be back. Everyone’s here
and starting school ““ it’s (going to be) a fun
weekend.”