Ramblers can’t stand the Bruins’ heat

Wednesday, March 4, 1998

Ramblers can’t stand the Bruins’ heat

VOLLEYBALL: Loyola cracks under pressure of UCLA’s superb
blocking

By Grace Wen

Daily Bruin Staff

The pressure cooker wasn’t working last night.

The UCLA men’s volleyball team brought so much heat to the court
that Loyola University’s "pressure-cooking offense" exploded. In
less than an hour and a half, the Bruins disposed of the Ramblers
15-6, 15-4, 15-9.

"We played well tonight," UCLA head coach Al Scates said. "I
liked Tom Stillwell’s blocking. That’s the best he’s blocked all
season in terms of getting over the net and penetrating.

"Technically, we’re blocking very well. It’s up to the other
team whether they choose in some situations to hit the ball out or
hit it into the block. Loyola didn’t hit it out as many of our
opponents had been doing, so we blocked more. I’m happy with our
block and our play."

The Bruin block dominated the night, holding the No. 1 hitting
team in the nation to a mere .162 attack percentage.

UCLA, on the other hand, hit a whopping .415, including a .629
clip in game two. Sophomore Adam Naeve led the attack with 17 kills
in 22 attempts for a blistering .727 percentage. Senior captain
Stillwell chipped in 11 kills to go along with his five blocks.

"(My blocking) was better," Stillwell said. "It’s not where I
want it to be yet. I’ve been in a little slump blocking-wise, but
as long as we’re winning I’m happy. I improved tonight and that’s
all I can ask for. I can’t expect to reach where I want to reach in
one night."

UCLA’s block didn’t let anything by in game one. The Bruins
jumped out to a quick 7-1 lead with three blocks for points, while
forcing two hitting errors. Although the Ramblers went on a
five-point run, UCLA rattled off eight points.

The Ramblers were never a factor in game two as UCLA built up an
insurmountable 11-2 lead. Setter Brandon Taliaferro scored three of
the last four points with an ace, a kill and a block to close out
the game.

It took some time to get the points rolling in game three, but
once UCLA scored, the Bruins didn’t stop. With a 6-0 lead, UCLA
seemed to let down, allowing the Ramblers back into the match. The
Bruins had six hitting errors, enabling Loyola to close to
13-9.

But UCLA finished the night the same way it began. A stuff block
by Evan Thatcher and another block by Naeve ended the Ramblers’
ten-game win streak.

"UCLA’s real good," Loyola head coach Gordon Mayforth said.
"(The pressure cooker) blew up in our face. It didn’t come to
play.

"All I know is (UCLA) didn’t see our game plan. We never got
into it. There’s a good possibility that (UCLA is) that good that
we never had a chance to get to our game plan."

AARON TOUT/Daily Bruin

Fred Robins hammers the ball past Chris Steponatilis of Loyola
University of Chicago.