UCLA junior outside hitter Jonathan Acosta had surgery to remove
his appendix on Tuesday at the UCLA Medical Center. Acosta, this
year’s team captain and last season’s leading attacker,
is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks. Acosta played
well in last week’s preseason Huskie Invitational in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but complained of stomach pain on Sunday,
the final day of the tournament, according to coach Al Scates.
Behind Acosta, UCLA took third place in the tournament, beating
Laval University 35-33, 20-25, 25-17, 26-24 in the consolation
game. The Bruins had been swept by Alberta and beat Laval and
Saskatchewan in round-robin play. “It was a good trip in
terms of volleyball,” Scates said. UCLA also defeated Tsukuba
University of Japan in a four-game exhibition on Sunday. Sophomore
Damien Scott and senior J.T. Wenger will combine to replace Acosta
in the season-opening Elephant Bar Invitational in Santa Barbara on
Friday and Saturday.
SETTING SITUATION: Scates declared sophomore
transfer Beau Peters the starting setter for Friday’s match
against Pacific, but fellow sophomore Dennis Gonzalez, who got
equal playing time in Saskatchewan, is not far behind him. Gonzalez
could start if he reverts to the level of play that won him the job
by the end of fall practice, said Scates, who hopes to have a set
starter by the end of January. Freshman Julio Acevedo, the No. 1
setter recruit in the nation, will redshirt the season.
ALOHA MEANS GOODBYE: Junior outside hitter
Parker Smith left the team this fall and will be given a medical
retirement due to chronic patella tendonitis. Smith, a highly
touted recruit from Honolulu appeared in only 11 career matches at
UCLA in two seasons shortened by hand injuries.