Volleyball player

Monday, October 20, 1997

Bruins can’t block bad memories

WRAP Star blocker Marinkovic pivotal to USC’s win

By Jennnifer Kollenborn

Daily Bruin Staff

When No. 21 UCLA hosted No. 5 USC last Saturday, the enthusiasm
generated in Pauley Pavilion, a partisan crowd of 1,703, repeated
the intensity of the match. The two teams scrambled for each point,
rushing to get the ball over the net any way possible and in the
process, both teams finished the night with sloppy
performances.

But, USC can forget about its messy handling because the Women
of Troy defeated UCLA, extending their five-game winning
streak.

USC (7-2 in the Pac 10, 15-2 overall) outlasted UCLA (4-5, 9-7)
in five drawn-out games, 15-6, 4-15, 15-11, 14-16, 15-11.

When looking at the scores, it is difficult to decipher which
team played the better match; it was a toss-up.

UCLA out-hit USC .186 to .154, and the Trojans out-blocked the
Bruins 21 to 16.5. The extremely low hitting percentages by both
teams accounted for their careless play. Yet, for UCLA, it is just
another unneeded loss to chalk up on their list.

When USC prevailed, its strength and fire power proved why the
Trojans are ranked No. 1.

"What hurts most is that we lost to USC. They are a higher
ranked team and they are supposed to beat us," head coach Andy
Banachowski said. "I thought we battled them well tonight; there
were a few times when we broke down, but overall I think we were in
the match until the end."

UCLA concentrated most of its energy on shutting down USC’s
major force, All American candidate, junior middle blocker Jasmina
Marinkovic, who is currently hitting an NCAA high .475. Marinkovic
has led the nation in overall hitting percentage for four
consecutive weeks, and she proved her earnings against UCLA.

Marinkovic led the Trojans, drilling 31 kills at a .500 clip,
while adding 9 digs and 6 blocks. Her kill average capped both
teams where her unstoppable hitting left UCLA defenseless.

The Bruins battled USC’s experienced squad with senior outside
hitter Kara Milling, slamming 23 kills with 12 errors at a .167
clip while adding 11 blocks; sophomore middle blocker Tamika
Johnson notched 18 kills at a .438 average; senior setter Kim
Coleman led the defense with 9 blocks.

The small difference in team blocks seemed to determine the
winner in the intense match, and UCLA’s 4.5 blocks less than USC
hurt the Bruins.

"(During the time-outs,) we were trying to get some blocking
schemes going so that we could stop their attack," Banachowski
said. "USC was very effective getting the ball to their middle,
Jasmina, and we had hoped to slow her down, but we didn’t quite get
enough blocks."

The Bruins aim to even out its previous losses to the Washington
schools this week when UCLA entertains No. 24 Washington and No. 8
Washington State, but it will be difficult.

"I think we are playing better now, not good enough to win, but
I think the two losses that we had this week, even though we lost,
will give us some confidence to stretch the match out and play some
long games," Banachowski said. "I think we are playing better."

Jamie Scanlon-Jacobs

Senior Kara Milling soars above Trojan opponents to smash the
ball during the grudge match.