Alumni dig friendly defeat from team

  Freshman outside hitter Jesse Debban
bumps the ball as junior David Lin looks on. The
UCLA men’s volleyball team beat the alumni team 30-25, 30-23,
25-30, 30-25 Friday at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins are 6-3 overall
and 2-1 MPSF.

By Amanda Fletcher
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

There was a friendly exchange of unmentionable phrases before
the game, but when the match was over, Matt Davis (1997-99) said it
best.

“They whooped us.”

The UCLA men’s volleyball team (6-3 overall, 2-1 MPSF)
defeated the alumni 30-25, 30-23, 25-30, 30-25 on Friday night in
Pauley Pavilion.

“Not making any excuses, but we’re just not in
playing shape,” Fred Robins (1997-99) said with a laugh.
“The team looks very good. They’ll be really
exceptional when (Mark) Williams gets back.

“But we could’ve made it a little closer.”

Fortunately, the game wasn’t about winning and losing.

“The best part of the alumni game is that we can get
together with guys we haven’t seen in awhile,” said
assistant coach John Speraw (1992-95), who also coached the alumni.
“After graduating college it gets harder to hang out and
these are guys you’ve seen everyday from three to six so
it’s fun to get together and hang out afterwards.”

For some it was even a family affair. Sophomore quick hitter
Greg Coon was surprised in game three when his father, Ron Coon,
subbed in for the alumni.

Ron, who played for UCLA from 1971 to 1973, was decked out in
’70s athletic attire, complete with short shorts and a
cropped T-shirt.

“I hadn’t even planned to suit up,” Ron Coon
said. “But at the last minute I thought it would be
fun.”

It turned out to be the most entertaining part of the game.

“It’s gotta be the first time for a father-son
combo,” Speraw said. “I wanted to keep him out there,
the crowd was loving it.”

Laughing hysterically, Greg was no match for his father, going
zero for two on kills. Ron recorded one solo block and the alumni
went on to win their only game of the night.

“His father will be able to hold this over him for the
rest of his life,” Speraw said.

“He’s gonna go frame the stat sheet,” Greg
said.

But a father would never do that “¦ would he?

“Oh yeah,” Ron said. “I got the stat sheet
right here and it’s going on the fridge.”