Volleyball Briefs

Friday, May 15, 1998

Volleyball Briefs

Retrace UCLA’s march to

the NCAA title

With a 26-3 record, the UCLA men’s volleyball team was playing
in the MPSF Tournament for the automatic bid to the four team NCAA
Championship tournament in Hawaii.

However, the Bruins would falter against Pepperdine and would
have to wait for an at-large bid.

When the call came, UCLA packed its bags and headed to Hawaii
with the best record of the four teams, but the only one without an
automatic berth.

In the semifinal match against Lewis University, who the Bruins
had manhandled on all previous matches with a 5-0 record, the
Bruins appeared to have a clear path to a shot for a rematch
against the Waves.

However, the Flyers would put up a valiant fight and take UCLA
to the brink of elimination before the Bruins would prevail 13-15,
15-9, 15-6, 13-15, 15-11.

After an exhaustive five set match, the Bruins would have a
day’s rest before meeting Pepperdine, a team UCLA had already
played three times, in the finals.

But Tournament MVP, Adam Naeve and an all-around solid
performance from UCLA would enable the Bruins to easily defeat the
Waves in three straight sets, 15-11, 15-11, 15-7.

The win gives the volleyball program an amazing 17 NCAA
championships.

Fred Robbins hits one in the NCAA semifinals against Lewis on
April 29.

GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin

Tom Stillwell spikes the ball in the early 1st set offensive
initiated by the Bruins to score over the Waves.

Brandon Taliaferro celebrates with members of the team at the
Loyola Marymount game.

DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin

Mark Williams passes the ball.