UCLA sweeps through competition

Monday, February 23, 1998

UCLA sweeps through competition

VOLLEYBALL Squad has no trouble with Northridge, San
Bernardino

By Grace Wen

Daily Bruin Staff

The domination continues.

The UCLA men’s volleyball team picked up a couple of easy wins
over the weekend.

On Saturday the Bruins defeated Cal State Northridge 15-6, 15-3,
15-3. The unbeaten Bruins made quick work of the Matadors, who were
obviously out of their league.

"We just were very aware of where they were, particular (Chad)
Strickland," UCLA head coach Al Scates said. "He’s a very good
player but he’s not good enough to deal with our block on a
consistent basis. He’s got a heavy load on that club."

The Bruin block turned the lights out on Strickland as it held
the Matador’s leading hitter to just 11 kills and six errors in 26
attempts for a .192 clip. For the night UCLA (12-0, 8-0 MPSF)
posted nine blocks and held Northridge to a .161 attack percentage
while hitting a whopping .485.

Middle blocker Adam Naeve led the team with a match-high 19
kills and seven blocks while senior Ben Moselle spiked 13 kills and
had three blocks including one solo stuff.

Despite holding a 2-4 lead in game one, the Matadors (3-7, 1-7)
were unable to build up the lead as the Bruins’ blocking took
charge. A block by Moselle in a one-on-one situation started the
run as UCLA tied the game and increased its lead to 8-4. The teams
exchanged 16 sideouts before Naeve was blocked, bringing the score
to 8-5.

Northridge would not get any closer throughout the night as an
ace by setter Brandon Taliaferro ended the first game.

UCLA showed no mercy in game two by jumping out to an 11-2 lead.
Like the previous victory, the fiery Taliaferro would have a hand
in the final points of the game.

A roof and an ace by the sophomore setter would get UCLA to game
point. His final blistering jump serve set up an overpass that
sophomore Matt Davis would crush to end the game.

There was little doubt to the outcome of game three when UCLA
took a commanding 11-3 lead. The Matadors’ passing woes were
especially obvious as three aces, two by Fred Robins and one from
Moselle, along with a kill by Naeve, closed out the win.

"I thought UCLA played very well," CSUN head coach Jeff Campbell
said. "They had a very good match and we’re very inexperienced so
that combination … that’s why it was so lopsided tonight."

It was definitely a strange sight to see on Friday night.

On the Bruin bench was Mark Williams, Moselle, Tom Stillwell,
Taliaferro, Robins and Naeve. It wasn’t that the starters were
struggling. If anything, it was just the opposite.

The starting lineup for UCLA had just bageled Cal State San
Bernardino so Scates decided to insert the entire second team into
the match.

It made no difference, as UCLA demolished the Coyotes 15-0,
15-5, 15-4.

Amongst those receiving some playing time were setter Eric
Vallely, outside hitters Matt Davis and Charlie Jackson, and middle
blocker Seth Burnham.

After game one, the match was competitive for about 10 minutes.
But then the second stringers found their rhythm and dominated the
rest of the match.

One fan in the stands put it best when he commented, "they
shouldn’t play those matches. It makes no sense."