CATHERINE JUN Setter Rich Nelson makes a play
for the ball during a match with UCSB. UCLA d.
UCSB 30-20, 30-32, 30-23, 22-30, 15-12
By Diamond Leung
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA men’s volleyball team was nearly upset again by
UC Santa Barbara, but in the end, the Bruins just wouldn’t
have it that way.
The top-ranked Bruins (8-3, 4-1 MPSF) held off the No. 8 Gauchos
Friday night (5-4, 3-4) 30-20, 30-32, 30-23, 22-30, 15-12 at Pauley
Pavilion.
“It’s good to see us pull through when we need
to,” said junior opposite hitter Ian Burnham, who finished
the night with a match-high 23 kills as well as nine digs.
“We knew we had it. We just had to sack up and
perform.”
When it counted in the fifth game, that’s what the Bruins
did.
“I like to win the five games,” UCLA Head Coach Al
Scates said. “It’s almost a coin flip when two good
teams play in the fifth.”
The momentum swung back and forth throughout the match.
The Bruins easily took game one with the Gaucho attack
struggling. UCLA had two opportunities for game points in the
second game but failed to convert. A hitting error by senior
outside hitter Mark Williams allowed UCSB to win the game
32-30.
“I personally messed up,” Williams said. “My
game is long off from where it should be.”
Despite the miscue, Williams played very well in his second
match back from an ankle injury, finishing with a double-double, 12
kills and 12 digs, to go along with seven block assists.
But the statistics don’t come close to measuring
Williams’ importance to the team. With junior outside hitter
Matt Komer out with a hip injury, the Bruins needed Williams back
in the lineup.
“(Williams’ return) really improved our
passing,” Burnham said. “Once we have Komer back too,
we’ll be really solid all-around.”
The Bruins took the third game behind the serving of senior
All-American middle blocker Adam Naeve.
But the Gauchos wouldn’t go easily, taking the fourth game
behind solid passing and defense, limiting UCLA to .128
hitting.
“We went through a little lull there,” Burnham said.
“We weren’t playing too good, but we came back and
finished strong.”
The Bruins ended up out-hitting (.316-.259), out-blocking
(16-12.5), and out-digging (59-45) the Gauchos.
Even so, the Bruins know they can do better. “It feels
good, but we should have put it away,” Williams said.
“We got tested and ended up succeeding.”