Roaring Gauchos volleyball visits No. 1 UCLA
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 11, 1995 9:00 p.m.
Roaring Gauchos volleyball visits No. 1 UCLA
Vociferous Velasco leads No. 5 UCSB into Pauley Pavilion for
MPSF battle
By Eric Branch
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Like most coaches, UC Santa Barbara men’s volleyball coach Ken
Preston isn’t a big fan of moral victories. Actually, to put it
more succinctly, he hates them.
Two months ago, after his team took a game from No. 1 ranked
UCLA in the midst of a 15-12, 14-16, 15-13, 15-9 loss, Preston was
offered congratulations, something he didn’t exactly
appreciate.
"That’s just the mindset people have, ‘Wow you played great
against the Bruins,’" Preston said. "Well big deal  we still
lost. On one hand it’s a moral victory, but then again we were
still pissed that we lost. Losses generally aren’t good for your
confidence."
Preston brings his No. 5 Gauchos (16-7 overall, 13-4 in Mountain
Pacific Sports Federation) into Pauley Pavilion for a 7 p.m. match
against UCLA (22-1, 16-0) and he clearly isn’t taking the role of
the gutty little Gauchos. Apparently the role wouldn’t suit UCSB
anyway as the Gauchos enter tonight’s match on a six-game winning
streak.
The two teams have met twice already this season, the Bruins
also swept UCSB in their season opener, and Preston hopes tonight
will not be the last meeting. UCSB could conceivably face UCLA
again in the regionals of the MPSF playoffs and at the Final Four
in Springfield, Mass.
"I think the road to the national championship is three more
times through the Bruins," Preston said. "This will just be a
testing ground to see if we’ve improved and see where we stand
against them."
Despite beating the Gauchos twice already, UCLA setter Stein
Metzger realizes tonight will test the Bruins 31-game home winning
streak.
"Santa Barbara and Hawaii have been our two toughest matches
this year," Metzger said. "The last time they were right there with
us. It’s going to be a tough game."
The Gauchos will be headlined by 6-foot-7-inch swing hitter
Donny Harris who ranks in the top 10 in the MPSF in kills per game
and aces. UCLA coach Al Scates is also concerned about Gaucho quick
hitter Robert Treahy.
"Donnie Harris is their big hammer, but so far we’ve been able
to contain this guy, which is why we’ve beaten them," Scates said.
"Treahy is the guy that kills us. We concentrated on Harris and
Treahy got loose (in the first two meetings this season)."
UCSB’s volatile opposite/setter Amaury Velasco, whose mouth is
being investigated by the sanitation department, will also be in
attendance.
"(Velasco) fires up everybody," Scates said. "This guy is Mr.
Fire-Up  he yells at us, he yells at his teammates and he
yells at the referees.
"The guy never shuts up. He’s a real motor mouth. But you know
what, he’s a very positive influence for his team. But sometimes
he’s a positive influence for us too."
Metzger, not exactly reticent on the court himself, will be
ready for Velasco.
"I’m usually pretty ready for Velasco," Metzger said. "Even if
I’m not, after the first two plays with him growling I’m
ready."
