M.volleyball: Volleyball has solid fall debut

Friday night’s sweep (30-25, 30-22, 30- 21) over Team
Canada put an end to the successful men’s volleyball
preseason. The win improved the Bruins’ preseason record to
4-1.

This fall debut was a solid three- game performance. Though the
team started out slowly, once they got into their rhythm, they had
momentum on their side.

“During this game, we worked the kinks out and solidified
positions,” senior quickhitter Chris Peña said.
“It was a good exhibition, and we were able to establish good
continuity.”

This first and final home match of 2003 ended the preseason. The
team will not play in Pauley Pavilion again until Jan. 14 against
La Verne.

“It was a big improvement since the Canadian
tournament,” coach Al Scates said. “After two weeks of
solid practice we were able to play an extraordinary
game.”

This extraordinary game was a result of Scates’ new mixed
lineup. The new rotation was a configuration of players that had
been playing the best in recent practices. Starters Peña, Adam
Shrader, Kris Kraushaar, Nick Scheftic, Dennis Gonzalez and Steve
Klosterman seem to be those who played the best during the
practices preceding the game on Friday.

However, the star of the game was Peña, who was deemed
UCLA’s most valuable player of the match. His nine kills and
two aces aided the Bruins’ victory.

Scheftic tied Peña’s game-high nine kills.

“Scheftic played the best he ever has,” Scates
said.

The combination of Scheftic and Peña in tandem in the
attacking column, and the excellent serving of outside hitter
Damien Scott, solidified a win for the Bruins during this Pauley
Pavilion debut.

This was not only the debut of the newly configured team, but
also that of freshman Steve Klosterman.

“It was intimidating because (Pauley) is such a big
place,” Klosterman said.

Though he started out slowly, Klosterman’s debut was a
success. In the third period, Klosterman played his best and
pounded five kills as well as two service aces.

“(Klosterman) didn’t start out well, but he had
three very good matches, and today he came back and played
well,” Scates said. “After each game, he will get
better than the last.”