Bruins look to block repeat of loss

  DANIEL WONG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff The No. 5 UCLA
women’s volleyball team faces No. 3 USC in an important match
tonight at Pauley Pavilion.

By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Friday’s match-up between the No. 3 USC and the No. 5 UCLA
women’s volleyball teams can be summed up in two words:
revenge and respect.

The Bruins won’t tell that they’re out for revenge,
but when you are defeated by your rival the first time around,
revenge will be a factor in round two.

“When you lose to a team like that, you want to go back
and win,” senior outside hitter Ashley Bowles said.

But the Bruins aren’t going into the match blindly. They
know Friday’s match is not just about avenging a lop-sided
sweep because they know it won’t be that easy.

USC comes to Pauley Pavilion undefeated in conference play and
13-1 overall. They lead the Pac-10 in hitting percentage (.318) and
kills per game (17.86), posing credible threats at all hitting
positions, with outside hitters sophomore April Ross and freshmen
Keao Burdine and Alicia Robinson along with middle blockers senior
Jennifer Pahl and sophomore Katie Olsovsky.

“(The Trojans) have really good balance and strength at
every position, so they may be less predictable than some other
teams,” UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski said. “You
can’t load up on just one person because then they just stop
giving the ball to them and give it to someone else.”

In order to combat USC’s offense, the Bruins have to put
up tough defense. Consistent blocking and digging will allow UCLA
to establish a good defensive rhythm.

Serving is another strong suit for the Bruins. With seniors
Kristee Porter and Bowles along with junior Lauren Fendrick in the
Pac-10’s top 10 of aces per game, the Bruins are dangerous
from behind the line.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL vs. Today 7 p.m. Pauley
Pavilion

And don’t count out the UCLA attack. Porter leads the
conference and is third in the nation in kills per game, while
Fendrick is ninth in the conference.

But the key in order for UCLA to win is consistency. They must
consistently put up a block and dig the ball in order to take USC,
a team that has lost just one game during conference play, out of
their offensive rhythm.

“We need to go into the match with the confidence that
we’re going to be able to sideout all night long and going to
be able to score some points with our serving and disrupt their
offense,” Banachowski said.

Regardless of the teams on the floor, the Bruins have the
inherent advantage that comes along with playing on their home
court.

“I like playing in our gym and in front of our
fans,” Porter said. “We play much better at home than
we do on the road.”

Both teams are more than capable of winning this Friday. If the
Bruins follow their game plan and capitalize on their strengths
against USC, they can be the first Pac-10 team to send the Trojans
home with a loss.