The UCLA men’s volleyball team kept up its winning ways Thursday night, defeating UC San Diego in what has become a familiar fashion – sweeping the game in three sets behind strong hitting and a stellar performance from senior outside hitter Robart Page.
The Bruins hit .480 against the Tritons on the road, with Page contributing a team-best 15 kills, to propel themselves to a 5-0 conference record and bringing them to 8-1 on the season. UCLA is currently out-hitting its opposition by a difference of .12.
Redshirt junior setter Michael Beals contributed eight digs and 34 assists in the Bruins’ victory, stepping up to the challenge mounted by the absence of sophomore starting setter Steve O’Dell, who has not played since Jan.18 due to an undisclosed injury.
No. 1 UCLA could have given way to complacency against UC San Diego, as they were coming off Monday night’s big win over No. 8 UC Irvine and had the potential to underestimate the unranked UC San Diego, who have yet to win a conference matchup.
The Bruins’ eight-match win streak – in which only two outcomes were decided in more than three sets – is the longest-ever under Speraw and the team’s largest since its 10-game streak in 2012, which is also the last time the Bruins earned the top spot in the NCAA rankings.
UCLA will look to continue its success as they face defending national champion UC Irvine for the second time this week Saturday at Irvine. The Bruins swept the Anteaters Monday night at home.
