Bruins overcome UCSD with clutch play

  Freshman quick hitter Chris Peña
returns the ball to UC Santa Cruz during UCLA’s 3-0 win at
Pauley Pavilion Friday night. The Bruins also defeated UC San Diego
on Saturday in three close games. The Bruins are currently ranked
No. 3 in the nation. UCLA d. UCSD 31-29, 33-31,
30-28 UCLA d. UCSC 30-17, 30-21, 30-23

By Amanda Fletcher
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Each game started the same way. UC San Diego earned the first
point, led most of the game and nearly won each.

But in the end, the No. 3 UCLA men’s volleyball team
(12-4, 6-2 MPSF) came up with the big plays that won them the match
Saturday night 31-29, 33-31, 30-28.

It wasn’t surprising, though. The Tritons (2-13, 0-11)
have been doing the same thing to everyone all season long. A short
squad, with only one starter over 6-foot-6, UCSD had many scrappy
players who have used their solid defense to stay in, and almost
win, most of their games.

“I knew they were a pretty good team,” freshmen
middle blocker Chris Peña said. “They’re a good
defensive team, they know how to pass the ball and they’re
very fundamental.

“I told the guys before the game not to underestimate them
and at some times we did, but I never really doubted the fact that
we were going to win.”

This was especially evident in game one, the closest of the
three. It was game point for the Tritons and senior Bruin outside
hitter Mark Williams hit the ball into the block. It ricocheted
back and bounced off his head heading out of bounds. Fortunately
for the Bruins, Triton setter Jordan Hove reached out and touched
the ball seconds before it hit the floor. The Bruins then went on a
two-point rally to win the game.

“I think that was a lucky win for them to win that
way,” Triton Head Coach Ron Larsen said. But he doesn’t
discount UCLA’s ability to play under pressure.

“I didn’t think the Bruins played as well as they
usually do,” Larsen said. “But the Bruins also make
great plays in critical times. That’s why they won the
national championship 18 times.”

Despite the Tritons’ tough defense ““ they out-dug
the Bruins 35-22 ““ many of UCLA’s problems originated
on their own side of the net.

“We weren’t going to the right spot on
defense,” sophomore setter Rich Nelson said. “We
weren’t getting there fast enough.”

On the offensive end, UCLA mistakenly tried to overpower the
Tritons in the beginning. Once the Bruins relied less on their
strength and put more faith in finesse, dinking balls into the
gaps, they began to gain the advantage.

“I didn’t think we used enough variety in our
attack, we just hit hard,” UCLA Head Coach Al Scates
said.

One player who saw the light was sophomore outside hitter
Cameron Mount. Combining off-speed dinks with hard swings, he led
the team with 14 kills. Williams and Peña had nine each.

Against UC Santa Cruz on Friday, the Bruins dominated in all
categories, sweeping the Banana Slugs 30-17, 30-21, 30-23.

Sophomore Greg Coon led the Bruins with 12 kills, followed by
Peña with 10 and senior Williams with eight.

Freshman libero Adam Shrader had nine digs on the night as the
Bruins held UCSC to a .088 clip.