MARY CIECEK/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Mark
Williams digs the ball in UCLA’s victory over UCI this
weekend.
By Diamond Leung
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA men’s volleyball team might want to hold back on
flashing “hang loose” signs during its stay in
Hawaii.
After all, with the flu bug taking its toll on five starters, a
drained No. 5 Bruin team (2-2) will need to conserve every ounce of
energy it can as it faces three tough opponents beginning tonight
with Laval University at the 7th Annual Outrigger Hotels
Invitational in Honolulu.
“We’ve had three practice days in two weeks where
all the starters were here,” UCLA head coach Al Scates said.
“We’ve missed the practice time. Right now, we’re
out of shape.”
However, Scates is confident that his players can weather the
storm. It’s safe to say that things can only get better at
this point.
“As soon as we can get back from Hawaii and actually get
four days of practice in, I think we’re going to be a pretty
good team,” he said.
Before then, however, the Bruins will have to contend with
Canadian powerhouse Laval tonight, No. 9 Penn State on Thursday,
and tournament host No. 6 Hawai’i on Friday.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Outrigger Tournament @
Honolulu, Hawai’i vs. Laval Univ. Tonight 7 p.m. vs. Thursday 7
p.m. vs. Friday 9 p.m. Original by VICTOR CHEN/Daily Bruin Web
Adaptation by HERNANE TABAY/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Laval, the second-ranked team in the Canadian Interuniversity
Athletic Union, will provide a challenge for the Bruins. The Rogue
et Or are already in midseason form, having started their season in
October.
Since matches against Canadian teams do not count in the
standings, Scates will be able to play his bench more against
Laval. This will especially benefit freshman outside hitter Parker
Smith, who has been hampered by an injury throughout the preseason
and will have the chance to see action in front of his hometown
crowd.
“Growing up, I used to go to the tournament every single
year just to go watch UCLA,” said Smith, a Honolulu
native.
“I’m excited that I have the chance to come
back.”
The Bruins will face No. 9 Penn State (1-0) on Thursday. The
Nittany Lions are looking to avenge last year’s loss to UCLA
in the national semifinals and expect the Bruins to bring their
“A” game.
“With any Bruin team, you know they’re going to play
hard, serve tough, and block well,” Penn State head coach
Mark Pavlik said.
Probably the biggest challenge for the Bruins will be
Hawai’i (2-0), a team that has always played UCLA close. Led
by sophomore All-American outside hitter Costas Theocharidis, the
Warriors hope to keep the Bruins from winning their fourth straight
Outrigger Invitational title at the Stan Sheriff Center.
“There will be 10,000 people in the stands,” Scates
said. “It’s a big-time match for us because with that
crowd they play a lot better at home.”
There is no love lost between these two teams. In last
year’s Outrigger Invitational final, the Bruins escaped with
a thrilling five-game victory over the Warriors after a pre-match
altercation. UCLA also went on to defeat Hawai’i in a
two-match sweep later in the season.
“I’d say (the UCLA-Hawai’i rivalry) is one of
the biggest if not the biggest rivalry in college
volleyball,” Smith said. “Whenever we go, the crowd is
just so hostile that it makes it that much more fun.”
The Bruins do have their hearts set on going into the tournament
and winning. Whether their bodies follow suit remains to be
seen.