MARY HOLSCHER Chrissie Zartman and team
could meet Long Beach State with a win over Hawaii.
By Andrew Borders
Daily Bruin Reporter
The situation is a familiar one for the No. 16 UCLA
women’s volleyball team.
In 1999, UCLA defeated traditional power Pepperdine in the sweet
16 and lost to host Penn State in the elite eight.
In 2000, the Bruins beat Pacific, another storied program, and
lost to host Wisconsin.
And in 2001, UCLA (20-8) has the same hill to climb. No. 11
Hawaii (29-5), always a threat, faces the Bruins in Long Beach
tonight. A win by the Bruins would put them in the round of eight
against No. 1 Long Beach State (30-0).
While the Bruins already defeated Hawai’i earlier this
year on the island, both teams say they’ve improved.
“I think we’re a different ball club now,”
Hawai’i head coach Dave Shoji said.
“This is definitely the best we’ve played all
year,” UCLA senior outside hitter Ashley Bowles said.
Despite the confidence the Bruins have from their earlier defeat
of Hawai’i and the tempting prospect of challenging the No. 1
team in the country the following night, UCLA head coach Andy
Banachowski insists the Bruins’ minds are on the Wahine.
“We’ve got to get by Hawai’i first,” he
said.
But should the Bruins and 49ers square off, UCLA senior setter
Erika Selsor says that LBSU’s perfect record may be
deceiving.
“I don’t think there’s anybody that plays in a
conference like we do,” Selsor said.
Only No. 12 Pacific helps LBSU hold the Big West Conference
banner in the Top 25.
Even LBSU head coach Brian Gimmillaro contends that despite the
perfect record, his team is not invincible.
“Anybody can be beat,” he said.
And though No. 16 Northern Iowa has the first shot at upsetting
the top-ranked 49ers, the Bruins would love to be the ones to prove
Gimmillaro right.