EDWARD LIN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Adam
Shrader’s late-season injury hurt the Bruins.
By Daniel Miller
Daily Bruin Contributor
[email protected]
Like always, head coach Al Scates had high hopes for the UCLA
men’s volleyball team this season.
Unlike most seasons, this one ended in disappointment as the
Bruins lost to Santa Barbara 3-2 in the first round of the MPSF
playoffs.
“It was a huge disappointment because we were playing so
well in January,” Scates said. “We were hitting a lot
better and blocking a lot better then. Whenever we lose our last
match of the year, it is not a successful season.”
UCLA has won 18 national championships ““ all in
Scates’ 40-year tenure.
While it may seem silly to contemplate “what if”
scenarios, the injuries the team endured cannot be ignored. Junior
middle blocker Scott Morrow and freshman outside hitter Jonathan
Acosta were injured for the home stretch of the regular season,
each returning for the team’s final match.
“We never have seen such a rash of injuries,” Scates
said. “It was just a culmination of injuries that slowed us
down at the end of the season. Not having a starting six that
played together hurt.”
Still, some team members refuse to blame the Bruins’ early
playoff exit on injuries.
“Personally, I was very disappointed in the outcome of the
season,” sophomore middle blocker Chris Peña said.
“I don’t like to talk about what we could have done. As
far as injuries go, they happen.
“It’s unfortunate that we are out this early,”
Peña continued. “I’m not used to watching other
teams play. I lose a lot of sleep over it. We had really good team
chemistry; I put energy into being some of the glue that held the
team together. We all communicate well and it’s really a
shame that we had that match (against Santa Barbara) in our hands
and let it slip away. Toward the end of the season I saw our
intensity dwindle.”
Several Bruins garnered MPSF All-League positions. Sophomore
libero Adam Shrader was the sole UCLA player to make the first
team. Senior outside hitter Matt Komer was second team. Junior
outside hitter Cameron Mount and junior setter Rich Nelson were
third team. Also, junior middle blocker Scott Morrow and Peña
were honorable mentions.
Next year, the biggest problem for the team will be filling the
hole created by the departure of team captain Komer, the
squad’s only senior.
Komer played in every game this season, and it will be difficult
to effectively replace such a complete player. According to Scates,
Komer had an effective jump serve, was an outstanding passer and an
excellent hitter. Acosta and freshman outside hitter Gray Garrett
will vie for Komer’s position. Acosta’s strength is
hitting, while Garrett’s is passing.
“This season was disappointing, but we had such a young
team this year,” Morrow said. “I think that next year
we will have a really strong team with more experience.”
In recent years Scates has picked the team’s captain, but
next year he may let the players vote for their captain due to the
abundance of qualified athletes. Scates noted Mount, Nelson and
Morrow as possible candidates.
This summer Scates will work with the USA men’s volleyball
team “to see what other teams are doing,” while the
players will practice in the gym and on the beaches.
Scates knows the players will be practicing hard. “It
gives you motivation when you finish like this,” he said.