Bruins clinch No. 3 seed with victory over Irvine

  EDWARD LIN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Sophomore
Adam Shrader celebrates as UCLA downed UCI 3-1
Friday night to secure the No. 3 seed in the MPSF Tournament.

By Diamond Leung
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

IRVINE ““ Brennan Prahler didn’t exactly have a
defined role on the UCLA men’s volleyball team. On some
nights, he stood on the sidelines, cheering on the starters while
never seeing action. On others, he wasn’t even in uniform.
For most of the season, the freshman has been the one left standing
in the musical chairs of outside hitters who replace Jonathan
Acosta in the lineup.

But ever since two losses in Hawai’i last week ended all
the fun and games, Prahler has found himself in the starting
lineup. In Friday’s regular season finale against No.15 UC
Irvine at Crawford Hall, he found his comfort zone as a UCLA
regular. He even talks like one now.

“We came out like we wanted to and dominated, but we
should have beat them in three games,” Prahler said.

He didn’t exactly sound elated after the No. 3
Bruins’ 30-26, 30-21, 33-35, 30-22 win over lowly UCI (12-17,
6-16 MPSF), but his business-like approach must have willed him to
his career night of 10 kills, seven blocks and seven digs.

“I like the way Prahler’s playing,” UCLA head
coach Al Scates said. “He’s gaining confidence and more
experience.”

The UCLA victory, coupled with the Hawai’i sweep of BYU
later that night, clinched the No. 3 seed in the MPSF Tournament
for the Bruins (25-6, 17-5). They will face UC Santa Barbara on
Saturday at Pauley Pavilion in the first round.

“We have to get ready for Santa Barbara, and
everybody’s feeling good about it,” Bruin sophomore
libero Adam Shrader said. “At the end of the regular season,
it’s good to get a win after two tough losses to
Hawai’i.”

Senior outside hitter Matt Komer closed out UCI in Game 2 with
three straight aces. The Bruins spoiled six match points and
eventually lost Game 3, but that didn’t save the
Anteaters.

UCLA junior outside hitter Cameron Mount led all attackers with
21 kills. Komer finished with 12 kills, seven digs and five aces.
Sophomore middle blocker Chris Peña tallied 12 kills and eight
blocks.

Riding a two-match winning streak into the playoffs, the Bruins,
as they always do, believe that they will perform quite well in the
playoffs.

“We’re fired up and we’re ready,”
Prahler said. “We know what we have to do ““ win five
straight matches.”

That’s what it will take in order to win the NCAA
title.