Daily Bruin File Photo Junior middle blocker
Scott Morrow, who might miss Sunday’s exhibition
with a broken finger, goes for the kill versus UCSB last
season.
By Diamond Leung and Daniel
Miller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Sophomore middle blocker Chris Peña is looking forward to
facing the Team Canada Masters Sunday at the John Wooden Recreation
and Sports Center.
“What am I looking forward to? I’m looking forward
to winning,” he said.
That’s been the theme so far this preseason for the UCLA
men’s volleyball team, which won the Husky Dino Cup in
Calgary, Canada, two weeks ago.
For Peña, it’s a chance to establish himself in the
starting lineup after two frustrating injury-plagued seasons.
“This is an exhibition match where we can nail down our
lineup,” he said. “People’s spots are being taken
at the drop of a hat. I’ve been happy with my play so far and
I’m lucky enough that there’s an opening in the
lineup.”
UCLA head coach Al Scates acknowledged Peña’s play
this fall as amazing, noting “he’s a lot quicker this
year.”
Against the Team Canada Masters, Peña and the rest of the
Bruins will have a chance to showcase their abilities to some of
Canada’s grizzled veterans.
“They are a bunch of professionals who can’t get
volleyball out of their blood,” Scates said. “They
still love the game.”
In terms of preparation, the Bruins enter the match at a
disadvantage. UCLA has never seen their opponent play, while the
Bruins have been on Canadian TV twice.
“I’m sure they know all about us,” Scates
said.
Junior outside hitter Cameron Mount will not play Sunday because
the match falls on the Mormon day of rest.
According to Peña, UCLA will use the exhibition match to
finalize its lineup and make some adjustments.
“I’m also looking forward to working out some of the
kinks that we have to work on in order to get a little more
fluidity with our team,” he said.
Fluidity that Peña and the Bruins have already demonstrated
for the Team Canada Masters on TV.