M.Volleyball Notebook

  UCLA Sports Info Jonathan Acosta

Walking wounded

Freshman Jonathan Acosta will not see action until at least Feb.
19, when the Bruins play UC Santa Barbara. After gaining national
attention with his stellar play earlier in the season, the outside
hitter tore his abdominal muscle and hasn’t played since Jan.
26. Acosta pulled the same muscle three times last year and was
given a medical redshirt.

Acosta’s backup was to have been sophomore Jesse Debban,
but he has been sidelined with a fractured tibia since the
beginning of the season and won’t be back until March. That
opened the door for sophomore Parker Smith, who was planning to
redshirt the season, to work his way into the starting lineup.

Also, senior outside hitter Matt Komer will have an MRI done on
his right shoulder to determine the cause of the pain he suffers
after matches.

Scates’ solo block

The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation will not implement a plan
to have Hawai’i host the MPSF Tournament this year after UCLA
head coach Al Scates raised concerns about the plan.

Hawai’i has consistently led the nation in men’s
volleyball attendance, and holding the playoffs there would have
increased the sports’ visibility. All 12 MPSF teams would
have competed in the tournament.

But Scates objected to awarding Hawai’i an automatic berth
into the quarterfinals regardless of its finish in the regular
season.

“There were a lot of pluses to the plan, but to assure
Hawai’i an automatic spot would be an unfair
advantage,” Scates said. “The rest of the coaches
wanted it, but I threw a monkey wrench into the plan.”

The plan has now been tabled.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens next
year,” Scates said.

More honors

Junior outside hitter Cameron Mount was named AVCA/Sports
Imports Division I-II National Player of the Week after recording
29 kills, 14 digs and six blocks last week.

Acosta earned the same honor on Jan. 21. He was featured in
Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd in Monday’s
issue.

Summer job

Fourth-year assistant coach John Speraw has been named head
coach of the U.S. Junior National Team. He will train his team,
which includes incoming recruits Matt McKinney and Patrick
Nihipali, July 8-22 at Lake Placid, NY.

Speraw lettered at UCLA from 1992-95 as a middle blocker,
winning two NCAA championships. He has been coaching for national
teams since 1997.

“John is a better coach than some head coaches in the
league as far as I’m concerned,” Scates said.

Compiled by Diamond Leung, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.