Young team yields to Trojan play

Monday, November 2, 1998

Young team yields to Trojan play

WVOLLEYBALL: Valiant comeback effort ended by veteran USC
squad

By Kimberly Edds

Daily Bruin Contributor

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

The No. 23 ranked UCLA women’s volleyball team snapped their
six-game winning streak when they lost an intense game five to No.
11 USC, 18-16, Friday night at Pauley Pavilion.

After dropping the first two games to the Trojans 6-15 and
11-15, respectively, the Bruins roared back to win the next two,
15-9 and 15-11, only to lose the match in game five.

Sloppy is the only way to describe the Bruins’ play in games one
and two, but they recovered in time to force a game five.

The Bruins had a hard time making their blocks, and initially,
their passing was weak.

"We didn’t play hard at the beginning, and we didn’t put
pressure on USC," UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski said. "We needed
to put pressure on USC."

UCLA also had a lot of problems with bad serves and misplayed
balls, which cost them a couple of crucial points in game five.

Even though UCLA (9-10 overall, 8-4 Pac-10) lost the match, they
showed that they can play with the top teams in the nation, at
least for the final three games of the match.

"Everyone came together when we needed to. We stepped up and
showed great teamwork," outside hitter Elisabeth Bachman said.

Game five proved just how strong the Bruins can be. UCLA scored
first, and USC answered every point until UCLA pulled ahead
14-12.

They soon lost the lead with three unanswered Trojan points to
make the score 15-14.

UCLA fought to tie it up at 16, but soon gave up the game to
USC, 18-16.

Sophomore Elisabeth Bachman had an amazing outing, finishing the
night hitting .524 with 24 kills. Bachman was everywhere that USC
was.

Freshman Kristee Porter didn’t disappoint either, continuing her
amazing season by having over 30 kills in a match for the third
time this season. Porter also hit for .321 for the match.

While Porter’s offense was outstanding, her defense showed her
lack of experience.

"Defense is a lot more important," Porter said. "I’m going to
concentrate more on defense in practice."

Erika Selsor made her presence known on the court with 73
assists, playing her heart out the entire match with a
never-say-die attitude.

It wasn’t lack of heart, just this lack of experience, that hurt
the Bruins against USC.

The Trojan seniors were just too much for the young Bruins.

Outside hitter Jennifer Kessy dominated UCLA with a team leading
21 kills in the match. Kessy, along with fellow senior Jasmina
Marinkovic, helped to put the Bruins back in their seats.

Kessy is currently third on the USC career kill and attacks
list. After her outing against UCLA, she only needs 58 more kills
to take over the top spot in career kills for USC.

Two sophomores, outside hitter Antoinette Polk and setter Heidi
Munneke, were also big forces against UCLA. Polk had 16 kills in
the match and Munneke added 61 assists.

"USC is a veteran team, and veteran teams win close matches like
USC did tonight," Banachowski said.

UCLA started three freshmen while USC didn’t start any.

With this win, USC (15-5 overall, 10-2 Pac-10) extends their
winning streak to four, after beating Washington, and sweeping
Oregon and Oregon State last week.

Next up for the Bruins are Arizona State and No. 16 Arizona at
Arizona.

The last time UCLA faced these teams, they lost a close one to
Arizona and swept Arizona State in three straight games.

"You can’t be afraid to play a team," Porter said.

And with Friday’s outing against USC, they proved that they’re
not afraid of anybody.AARON TOUT/Daily Bruin

Freshman Ashley Bowles hits one past a USC block last Friday at
Pauley Pavilion.

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