The UCLA men’s volleyball team is aching.
With four players now out due to injury, constantly shifting lineups, academic ineligibility and a lack of team identity, the No. 11 Bruins (7-10) take the court tonight to face Grand Canyon (2-15) at Pauley Pavilion.
“We need to find some rhythm; we need to find team identity,” senior outside hitter Sean O’Malley said. “We are still moving guys around a lot.”
With so many players out, the Bruins have won only one set in their last four matches.
Junior outside hitter Garret Muagututia has been out since Feb. 13 with a sprained ankle, sophomore quick hitter Weston Dunlap has been out all season with a stress fracture, sophomore Thomas Hastings has been out all quarter due to academic ineligibility and now cannot practice because he is coping with mononucleosis, and redshirt junior outside hitter Jeff Woodley, who played his first match since shoulder surgery Feb. 27, is out again because of an ankle sprain.
With the loss of so many players, coach Al Scates has been forced to try many different lineups.
“I think you need to find a solid core of guys before you can find consistency in your play,” O’Malley said.
The Bruins have had to dig deep into their lineup at each position, losing players at each position except for setter. With three capable setters, however, Scates likes to try different combinations.
“We just haven’t had a starting lineup yet,” he said. “We have to play better with the people we have on the court.”
As the loss of players has progressively hurt the Bruins more this season, they have seen a steady drop in national ranking.
They began the preseason as second in the nation, showing the expectations of the team with its starters.
“We have experienced players, we have top talent,” O’Malley said. “We just haven’t been able to utilize it.”
“We’re playing with players who didn’t think they would be wearing a jersey this year. They’re asked to do a lot, sometimes more than they are capable of doing at the moment.”
Scates is also moving freshman opposite Kyle Caldwell to the outside hitter position for tonight.
But the Bruins should make some strides this week. Grand Canyon, a team beginning its inaugural season, has been largely unsuccessful so far.
“It’s good to have a team like Grand Canyon on Wednesday,” O’Malley said. “I have a feeling we are still going to be trying new things, but we need to find something that works so we can have people a little more comfortable.”
The Bruins are also returning home, where they were building a healthy winning streak until Long Beach State crashed the party on Feb. 25.
Dunlap is also making significant progress. He participated in the entire practice Monday, and Scates says his blocking is good.
Having not played since January, though, Dunlap has lost much of his endurance and will likely not be available for more than a game or two.
Muagututia is also making healthy progress since his few serves at UC San Diego last Friday.
“Garrett got through a whole practice,” Scates said. “We didn’t have him blocking very much, (and) he can’t elevate very much.”
But for the Bruins, gaining some momentum after being so sorely beaten the past few weeks is everything.
“We want to come back home and win,” O’Malley said.
With reports from Johnny Rath, Bruin Sports reporter.