UCLA remains optimistic despite losses

  ELI GILL Freshman middle blocker Heather
Cullen spikes the ball against USC.

By Andrew Borders
Daily Bruin Reporter

Times are tough for the No. 6 UCLA women’s volleyball
team.

Two weeks ago at Pauley Pavilion against No. 4 Stanford, the
Bruins (10-4, 5-3 Pac-10) had the Cardinal on the ropes, up two
games to none. Then, the Cardinal roared back, taking the last
three games and handing UCLA a heartbreaking defeat.

But never in program history had such a collapse happened twice
in the same season, until last Friday.

This time against No. 3 USC, the Bruins had the Trojans on the
brink of elimination, and failed to close.

Though none of the losses have been upsets, the crushing manner
in which these defeats were delivered would demoralize any team.
Any team except UCLA, the Bruins insist.

“We know how close we were, so it motivates us to come in
the gym and work harder,” senior outside hitter Ashley Bowles
said.

“It just shows that we’re so close and we’re
right there,” freshman middle blocker Heather Cullen
added.

UCLA can use the weekend road trip against the Arizona schools
to start over, in effect, as they did when the Sun Devils and
Wildcats came to Los Angeles several weeks ago. Coming off
embarrassing defeats at the hands of No. 1 Nebraska and USC, the
Bruins used the win over the Wildcats (13-3, 8-3) as a springboard
to a four-match win streak. Then came Stanford, and two matches
later, USC.

“Against Stanford I think we kinda let down a little bit,
and against ‘SC I think we kinda wore out a little
bit,” UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski said.

Since taking on its fourth loss, the team has reassessed its
goals.

“It’s going to be tough to win the Pac-10 right now.
It may not be possible at this point. What we’re playing for
is position in the tournament,” Banachowski said.

UCLA is in fifth place in the conference, three matches behind
conference-leading USC and Stanford. Arizona is 1 1/2 matches ahead
of the Bruins, and Oregon State is 1/2 ahead.

The match against Arizona State (7-10, 2-7) should be a tune-up
before Friday night’s clash with No. 7 Arizona. The Bruins
remained perfect since 1995 against ASU with the home win on Sept.
29, and are looking to record their third straight win at McKale
Center in Tucson.