UCLA d. Arizona St. 30-26, 30-25, 30-24
By Andrew Borders
Daily Bruin Reporter
It may have been a win over lowly Arizona State, but at least it
was a win.
The No. 6 UCLA women’s volleyball team (11-4, 6-3 Pac-10)
was coming off the worst two-match collapse in program history,
winning the first two games in two of the last three matches, only
to drop both leads.
In need of a confidence boost, UCLA will take the
“W,” a 30-26, 30-25, 30-24 sweep over unranked ASU
(7-11, 2-8) in Tempe, Ariz.
“They may have not been one of the top Pac-10 teams, but
everyone in the Pac-10 is a valid opponent,” senior setter
Erika Selsor said.
Selsor recorded 47 more assists, moving to within 102 of the
school record for career assists held by Ann Boyer (’88).
The Sun Devils played as their record would indicate, hitting
.154 to UCLA’s .283. Junior outside hitter Lauren Fendrick
(.370) and freshman middle blocker Heather Cullen (.429) came up
big in place of senior outside hitter Kristee Porter, who remains
ineligible awaiting word from the NCAA. Porter did not make the
trip to Arizona.
But the Bruins didn’t have a perfect match, either.
“Our play was a little disjointed at the beginning,”
UCLA head coach Andy Banachowski said.
Just as they had against Cal two weeks ago after dropping one of
those difficult matches to Stanford, the Bruins were able overcome
a slow start following last Friday’s crushing defeat at the
hands of USC.
“This is definitely a huge win and a huge confidence
builder,” UCLA senior outside hitter Ashley Bowles said.
UCLA continued a trend of dominance over ASU, notching their
12th straight win over the Sun Devils and 47th in 52 matches all
time.
The Bruins will need all the self-assurance they can muster for
tonight’s key match against No. 7 Arizona in Tucson.