ANNA AVIK Junior opposite hitter Matt
Komer is one of the most quiet and most talented players
on the UCLA men’s volleyball team.
By Diamond Leung
Daily Bruin Contributor
Matt Komer is like Deion Sanders ““ he’s a real
laid-back guy who is a terrific two-sport athlete.
The only thing is, he doesn’t talk as much as Sanders. In
fact, he doesn’t talk much at all.
“I don’t know much about his personality,”
UCLA head coach Al Scates said. “He doesn’t talk to me.
He’s not going to be a vocal guy.”
The 20-year-old junior may be quiet, but he makes his loudest
statements on the volleyball court.
As a sophomore last year, Komer played in 28 matches, including
starts in the NCAA semifinal and final matches.
He had 13 kills, six blocks, and seven digs against Ohio State
in the final to help the Bruins win their 18th national
championship.
Even so, Komer is hesitant to talk about his success in
volleyball.
“I was more of a basketball guy,” he said.
“That was my main sport.”
Komer was a six-time letterman at Los Alamitos High School. In
basketball, he averaged 15.5 points and 9.7 rebounds a game his
senior year.
“I got offers for basketball from Division I
schools,” Komer said.
Volleyball was always his main sport, though. He once notched 45
kills in a prep game to beat a rival high school.
In the summer of 1998, Komer earned a spot on the U.S. National
team that took third place in the Junior Olympics.
After turning down scholarship offers for volleyball from USC,
Long Beach State, Stanford, and Penn State, Komer decided to attend
UCLA. The atmosphere of Los Angeles seemed to suit his easygoing
attitude well.
But at least some people see another side to him.
“He and I are real competitive,” sophomore middle
blocker Greg Coon said. “The other day he said that he was
better in pool. I spanked him.”
Most people, however, say Komer is easygoing ““ bordering
on lazy.
“When he works out in the weightroom, he walks around and
does absolutely nothing,” said Sam Nelson, his roommate,
former volleyball player and UCLA basketball player. “Then he
comes back and says he got the hardest workout of his
life.”
Nelson also claims Komer sleeps 13 to 14 hours a day, but Komer
disagrees.
“I get limited sleep because of volleyball,” he
said.
But don’t say Komer doesn’t work hard at his
game.
Komer had trouble passing during his freshman year. One day,
Scates walked into practice and brought in an issue of Volleyball
Magazine. On the cover were the words, “Learn How to
Pass.”
Senior outside hitter Mark Williams recalls the incident.
“In front of everybody, Coach said, “˜Komer, come
here.’ He gives the book to Komer and said, “˜You better
read this.'”
Komer has certainly improved that part of his game. At the
Outrigger Hotels Invitational in Hawaii last week, he had to
replace an injured Williams on short notice and pass half of the
court for the first time while playing at UCLA.
He merely responded by making the all-tournament team and
helping the Bruins win the tournament.
“Komer’s been playing real well,” Scates said.
“We’re asking him to do things he hasn’t done
before. He’s passing, serving, starting to dig, and improving
on defense.”
As the Bruins head into the 2001 season, Komer looks to become a
more complete player.
“Who knows? Next year he may emerge as the leader,”
Scates said.
Until then, Komer will go quietly about his business and work
hard to become a prime-time player.
With contributions by Amanda Fletcher, Daily Bruin Senior
Staff.