Bruins pursue Pepperdine on unbeaten path of battle

Thursday, January 29, 1998

Bruins pursue Pepperdine on unbeaten path of battle

VOLLEYBALL: Both top teams hope to keep their undefeated
status

By Grace Wen

Daily Bruin Staff

The UCLA men’s volleyball team looks to extend its five-game
winning streak tonight vs. Pepperdine at Firestone Fieldhouse in
Malibu.

It will be a battle of the undefeated since neither team has
lost a match or game. It won’t be an easy task for the top-ranked
Bruins (5-0, 2-0 MPSF), especially since the third-ranked Waves
(3-0,2-0) are notorious for winning at home.

"Pepperdine beat us quite badly at their home last year," UCLA
head coach Al Scates said. "They’re very difficult to beat in their
gym. They play with a lot more confidence there.

"This could be the toughest match of the year."

In addition to home-court advantage, Pepperdine also boasts a
lineup that returns four starters from last year’s squad including
first team All-American George Roumain.

"He’s really a powerful hitter," Scates said. "He’s really
explosive. He hits the ball just as hard as anybody in the game.
Unless the block is perfectly formed he’ll just knock it down. He’s
tough to dig. You can’t dig him unless you really slow him up with
a good block first."

Besides the returning starters, the Waves have also added Rick
Tune, a transfer middle blocker from Hawaii, and freshman Scott
Wong. Wong will step into the outside-hitter spot vacated by the
graduation of All-American Kevin Barnett.

Wong, the younger brother of Kevin Wong, a former UCLA standout,
was considered one of the best in last year’s recruiting class
along with UCLA freshman Mark Williams.

UCLA, however, will counter with its own firepower. Sophomore
Adam Naeve is averaging a team-high 6.33 kills per game and 1 block
per game while setter Brandon Taliaferro averages 14.5 assists a
game.

"Hopefully, it’s a good match," Pepperdine head coach Marv
Dunphy said. "They have All-Americans everywhere. They look pretty
smooth.

"They’re pretty balanced. It’s not like trying to stop any one
thing."