Forcing a match point error, the Bruins regained their chance to win.
A sea of fans erupted over the tied score as the five-set thriller continued to unfold.
Another set point – this time, one that left a silent Pauley Pavilion with Bruin supporters holding ones in the air – resulted in a wash.
And after a Trojan kill lent to a 16-15 lead, an attack error handed the nail-biting win to the Bruins’ crosstown rivals.
UCLA women’s volleyball (8-3, 0-1 Pac-12) opened up conference play against USC (7-4, 1-0 Pac-12) on Wednesday night in front of a home crowd for the first time this season, falling 3-2 in a match that featured 42 tied scores.
A Bruin first-set victory was characterized by steady rallies and strategic kills. After a hole in the court knotted the score up at 23 apiece, UCLA pulled ahead as a kill from sophomore opposite hitter Carly Hendrickson ultimately clinched the opening frame.
And even while senior outside/opposite hitter Iman Ndiaye became the team’s kill leader on the night, totaling 16 overall, she said the defense was the source of the early lead.
“Our block did a really good job, so it made playing defense behind a lot easier,” Ndiaye said. “For hitting, I think our setter interconnection was something that keeps improving, so that was good tonight.”
Ndiaye has two double-doubles throughout her career, one of which was recorded in the previous match against Oklahoma and the other of which was achieved in Wednesday’s game.
In contrast to USC’s sub-.1 hitting percentages in the first and third sets, Ndiaye’s .342 clip was second to the .667 figure recorded by graduate student Desiree Becker.
Becker put on an efficient offensive showing Wednesday night, registering her highest hitting percentage as a Bruin – a feat that came alongside an errorless 12 kills. The middle blocker’s defensive efforts proved decisive as well, as she halted a USC attack attempt late in the fifth set to notch her seventh block of the affair.
With blocks as the only category UCLA took the cumulative lead in – falling behind USC in kills, digs and assists – the Bruins’ defense kept them in the running. Ultimately, UCLA recorded 15 blocks, notching seven in the first set alone.
Becker said the squad’s defensive prowess was thanks to the new coaching staff.
“Just keeping consistent with the reads and kind of taking the feedback from Amir (assistant coach Amir Lugo-Rodriguez) especially,” Becker said. “He’s big on the defensive and blocking, so taking what he has to say and repeating that.”
Throughout it all, the Bruins had the Bruin faithful on their side, which was a novel experience for Becker and associate head coach Jen Malcom. Although UCLA has survived a five-set contest this season away from Westwood, Malcom said a packed Pauley Pavilion with 5,204 people was significant.
“That’s huge for us,” Malcom said. “Our girls have proven that we deserve to have this fanbase behind us.”
Errors plagued UCLA’s offense, as it amassed 16 service errors alone that, coupled with 20 attack errors and 4 blocking errors, resulted in many missed opportunities.
Malcom said these fumbles defined the game’s result, given that an error is what closed the oscillating fifth set and decided a victor for the game.
“We missed some opportunities here and there – kind of is the game honestly,” Malcom said in her opening statement after the game. “They gave it all they had, but those are the areas that we just talked about. I think those are the errors that caused it.”
Ultimately, the Bruins scored only two points less than their counterparts throughout all five sets. Taking into account the squad’s successful plays and the game’s emotional ending, Ndiaye said the Bruins aren’t quite ready to put this match in the rearview.
“Coming off a loss, it’s like you’re more fired up for the next game – you’re trying to outdo yourself,” Ndiaye said. “So we’re definitely carrying a lot of that redemption energy with us.”
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