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M. volleyball to face No.5 Stanford after week off

By Daily Bruin Staff

Feb. 22, 1996 9:00 p.m.

M. volleyball to face No.5 Stanford after week off

By Ruben Gutierrez

Daily Bruin Staff

After winning four straight matches, the No. 3 UCLA men’s
volleyball team figures to be tested on the road this weekend, as
they take on No. 5 Stanford tonight and an upstart Pacific team on
Saturday evening.

As one of the nation’s premier attacking teams, the Cardinal
(7-1, 6-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) figures to test
UCLA’s vaunted block.

As a team, Stanford is ranked fourth in the nation with a .353
team attack percentage, an average which rests largely on the
shoulders of two Cardinal players. Junior opposite hitter Matt
Fuerbringer has put away a team-high 139 kills and is hitting at a
.352 clip. The other primary attacker for the Cardinal is middle
blocker Brian Moore, a .377 hitter.

Moore teams with Keenan Whitehurst to create a formidable
blocking duo as each averages better than 1.5 blocks per game.
Stanford’s lone loss this season was a three-game sweep suffered at
the hands of No. 2 Long Beach State two weeks ago.

Pacific (9-2, 6-2) also figures to give UCLA (8-2, 5-1) a run
this weekend. Pacific shook up the volleyball world two weeks ago
by upsetting No. 8 USC in five games. Since then, the Tigers have
taken three of their last four matches. A victory over the Bruins
would do wonders for Pacific in the national rankings, and UOP head
coach Joe Wortmann is confident that the cagey Tigers have at least
one more upset in their bag of tricks.

"When we beat UCLA on Saturday, we’ll be in the top 10 for the
first time," Wortmann said. "We’re going to be prepared. We’ve
already won some big matches this year. They’re a tremendous team,
and if we beat a tremendous team, I guess that makes us a good
team."

A talented trio of underclassmen lead the Tigers. Junior outside
hitter Sam Crosson splinters the court with an astounding .410
attack percentage. UOP’s tandem at the middle blocker positions are
also invaluable assets. Junior Greg Wakeham is among the best in
the nation in kills average, putting away almost eight balls per
game. Sophomore Martin Berkenkamp is one of the conference’s top
blockers with nearly two a game.

The Bruins have not taken to the court in a week, and after a
four-game victory over Loyola Marymount last Friday, senior swing
hitter Brian Wells emphasized how important the week of preparation
would be for the road matches in Northern California, especially
facing another ranked team tonight. UCLA head coach Al Scates
echoed Wells’ sentiments.

"Both matches this weekend will be tough ones," Scates said.
"Stanford has a well-balanced team and Pacific is an improving
program as evidenced by their victory over USC."

PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin

Senior swing hitter Brian Wells stated the importance prepping
for tonight.Comments to [email protected]

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