UCLA men’s volleyball team to face MPSF opponents in SAC Tournament

With the start of the regular season still a while away, the UCLA men’s volleyball team will get an early test during this weekend’s SAC Tournament.

The annual tournament, held in the Student Activities Center gym, will give UCLA a chance to play some of the competition in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. UCLA plays USC today, and will take on Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.

UCLA coach Al Scates praised USC, a team with several returning starters, saying that the Trojans would probably be the No. 1 team in the first coaches’ poll of the season.

The Bruins also have returning talent this year. Scates mentioned junior quick hitters Nick Vogel and Thomas Amberg as key returners with starting experience. They are two of several returning players who made contributions last year.

Redshirt junior Alex Scattaregia and junior Kyle Caldwell are two such players, and both are competing for the starting spot at setter. Scates said Scattaregia has had more reps with the starters during practice, and that both players will play in the tournament.

Two key players will not be taking the court this weekend. Amberg has been out after receiving stitches to a hand which he injured while blocking a ball in practice, and newcomer Gonzalo Quiroga is still in high school in his native Argentina. Quirago has signed with UCLA, and Scates said he would join the team in late December.

Compiled by Vidur Malik, Bruin Sports senior staff.