Men’s volleyball aims high before MSPF playoffs in final home games for Scates, seniors
Senior Thomas Amberg and the Bruins look to defeat BYU in the final two home games.
Men's Volleyball
BYU
Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.
John Wooden Center
Live video online
Info: No. 3 Bruins host the Cougars in coach Al Scates' final two home games.
By Kevin Bowman
April 6, 2012 12:52 a.m.
The UCLA men’s volleyball team had an extra hop in its step during Monday’s practice. After Saturday’s sweep of UC Irvine, the team that sent UCLA into its three-week long skid, the Bruins seem to have regained their poise.
“Saturday was a clear example that when we play the way we play, we can shut out any team,” said redshirt senior outside hitter Jeremy Casebeer.
This confidence boost could not have come at a better time.
No. 3 UCLA (20-5, 14-4 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) will face No. 4 BYU (20-5, 16-4) twice this weekend in matches that could very well dictate both teams’ playoff hopes.
The Bruins and Cougars are both in the midst of a four-team logjam atop the MPSF, tied with USC and UC Irvine in the loss column.
UCLA hopes to separate itself from the pack and better its chances for a home court advantage in the MPSF playoff by winning its matches today and Saturday.
“It’s important,” said coach Al Scates. “I’d love to win them all. Then we can host the whole thing.”
After the matches against BYU, UCLA will face No. 5 Stanford (16-6, 13-5) next week. This means that three of its final four games will be against elite competition.
But the Bruins see these tough matchups as a plus.
“We’re in (a) pretty good position ourselves because we have head-to-head matchups with all the top teams,” senior quick hitter Thomas Amberg said. “That way we can actually separate ourselves more by playing against them.
“And then that kind of gives us an advantage so we don’t have to sit back and hope someone else does the work for us. We actually have the opportunity to do it ourselves.”
Saturday will be the last regular season home match for Scates and the seniors, and both will be honored at the match. While they say that they are not emotional about this, there’s no denying their desire to win at home one last time.
And with Scates’ retirement looming, the Bruins have even more incentive to play hard.
“That’s Scates’ last home match after 50 years, so there’s going to be a lot of legends in the house. … That’s definitely extra motivation to play well,” Casebeer said.
UCLA may need that added boost to secure two wins against BYU, which is sure to be a tough opponent. The Bruins are certainly aware of the significance of these matches.
“All matchups hereon out have very, very dire playoff implications,” Amberg said. “As long as we keep focused on what we need to do and just perform against each team we have in front of us, then we can set our own destiny.”
