Monday, December 7, 1998
Gauchos lash UCLA title dreams
WVOLLEYBALL: Team beats Virginia, loses to UCSB in second
round
By A. CinQue Carter and AJ Cadman
Daily Bruin Staff
The No. 15 UCLA women’s volleyball team (16-12) began their
quest for another NCAA title with a 3-1 first-round victory over
the Cavaliers of Virginia 15-7, 15-6, 14-16, 15-5 but fell short
against UC Santa Barbara (28-5) on Sunday.
In the first match at UCSB’s Thunderdome, Pac-10 Freshman of the
Year selection Kristee Porter led all hitters with 30 kills against
Virginia (26-8) en route to her fifth 30-plus kill output of the
season. Porter also collected 13 digs and had three service aces,
including the final point of the match.
Fellow All Pac-10 selections freshman Ashley Bowles (18 kills,
.318, 14 digs) and sophomore Elisabeth Bachman led all blockers
with six blocks and hit .375 with 12 kills against the
Cavaliers.
Freshman setter Erika Selsor notched 54 assists and five digs
for the Bruins in the Saturday victory.
Behind strong performances by Porter with a game-high 24 kills
and Bowles with 19, UCLA gave a strong effort against UCSB before
falling short 8-15, 15-8, 13-15, 11-15.
UCSB’s Roberta Gehlke (team high 19 kills) and Katie Crawford
(18 kills) created the same result as last year’s second-round
match.
In the fist game, Gehlke had 10 kills against one error
(.529).
Porter would counter with eight kills against two errors (.500),
but the Gauchos took the early lead.
In game two, at eight points apiece, the Bruins took control.
With Bowles serving her third ace and superb blocks by senior
Chaska Potter and sophomore Amy Nihipali, the Bruins ran off seven
straight points.
In the third game, the Bruins stalled at 13-10 and watched UCSB
run off five points for the win.
Game four was marred by controversy as the Bruins saw an 11-5
lead disappear.
The Gauchos began to chip away at the lead started by a Heather
Hutchison ace. Following the ace and five more points, Porter would
stop the run at 11-11.
With the Bruins down 11-13, Porter attacked the net for a kill
that everyone in the arena saw except for the official. The Gauchos
would take the 14-11 lead, and the Bruins would lose their drive to
win.
Game, set, match Gauchos.
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