CATHY JUN Erika Selsor sets the ball for
Elisabeth Bachman in a game this month. The team
will play in the Thanksgiving Classic this weekend.
By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The No. 11 UCLA women’s volleyball team (14-4 Pac-10, 20-7
overall) is done with conference play, and though things did not
turn out exactly how they wanted, what’s up ahead is what
really counts ““ the NCAA tournament.
But first, the Bruins have some bonus brush-up time at the
Baylor Thanksgiving Classic, held in Waco, Texas, to work out the
kinks before showtime.
“This is a really important weekend for us. It’s the
last matches that we have before we start focusing on the
tournament play,” senior middle blocker Elisabeth Bachman
said.
“We’re going to go out there and play tough and
build up our confidence and play like we know we can play,”
she said.
The Bruins face Connecticut in the first round on Friday, Nov.
24 and will match up against either Baylor or UNLV on Saturday Nov.
25 in the final round.
UConn (19-12, 7-4) finished fourth in the Big East conference
and was defeated in the first round of conference playoffs by Notre
Dame.
Second team Big East senior outside hitter Stephanie Schindel
leads the Huskies in total kills with 400, and in kills per game
with an average of 3.74. Members of the Big East All-Rookie team,
freshmen outside hitters Julie Erbez and Laura Wooley, will also
provide strength in the Husky line up.
The Bruins will most likely face Baylor in the second round
since UConn should not be too much for UCLA to handle. Led by Big
12 freshman of the year candidate Stevie Nichols, Baylor (14-14,
7-12) will present a potent attack.
“I know (Baylor) has some good offensive weapons, so that
will be a good test for us,” UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski
said.
With two conference leaders on the roster, Nichols in kills and
junior setter Dana Chua in assists, the Bears will challenge the
Bruin blockers. Baylor finished eighth in the Big 12 and is second
in the conference in assists and kills.
UNLV (6-19, 5-9) finished sixth in the Mountain West conference.
Led by junior outside hitter Amber Graham who leads the
Runnin’ Rebels in blocks with 68 on the season to date, nine
solo and 55 assisted. Graham is also first in digs per game at 2.31
and is currently second on the team in kills with 183.
In addition to fine-tuning their volleyball skills, the
Thanksgiving Classic will give the Bruins a chance to hone their
concentration and focus, which is needed to play in an unfamiliar
gym. Come NCAA tournament time, if the Bruins advance beyond the
first two rounds, which will most likely be held in Pauley
Pavilion, UCLA will have to play on the road.
The Bruins’ finish in the Baylor tournament should not
significantly affect their seed for the NCAA tournament, which will
be announced Sunday night, Nov. 26.
“I don’t think wins at this point will do anything
for us because we’re expected to win this,” Banachowski
said. “If we drop games or drop a match, I think that’s
really going to hurt us, but (the tournament) is just another
opportunity to get better at this point.”
“¢bull; “¢bull; “¢bull;
Seven Bruins were honored by the Pac-10 as the All-Pac-10 and
All-Academic Pac-10 selections were announced Tuesday.
Bachman and junior outside hitter Kristee Porter were named to
the All-Pac-10 first team and outside hitters sophomore Lauren
Fendrick and junior Ashley Bowles and junior setter Erika Selsor
were awarded All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention. Middle blocker Ella
Harley received Honorable Mention for the All-Freshman team.
Senior defensive specialist Michelle Quon, Bachman and Fendrick
received All-Academic distinctions.