Post by scorpianraider on Nov 20, 2006 14:18:19 GMT -5
Pepperdine, UCLA up to challenge
ERIK BOAL, Special to the Daily News
A month ago, UCLA and Pepperdine s women s volleyball teams were headed in opposite directions.
The Bruins were coming off a four-game victory at USC in the final volleyball match at the Lyon Center, while the Waves had fallen two matches below .500 after being swept at Loyola Marymount.
Entering tonight s nonconference match, sixth-ranked UCLA (26-3) is again riding high following Friday s sweep of the Women of Troy. But Pepperdine is a far different team than it was in October.
We started our NCAA tournament the night after we lost to Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine coach Nina Matthies said. We said from that point on, we can t lose.
The No. 25 Waves (15-10) responded to the challenge, winning seven in a row, including victories over No. 17 San Diego and No. 22 Santa Clara. Pepperdine swept LMU on Thursday to secure second place in the West Coast Conference.
But Pepperdine s biggest test comes at 7 tonight at Pauley Pavilion, when the Waves will look to record their sixth victory in the past seven meetings with Bruins.
I ve gone 2-1 against them, so my focus is on getting more win against UCLA before I leave here, Pepperdine senior middle blocker Sophia Milo said. It s a fun match because the conference stress is behind us. Both teams usually play well and if we do that again, then it s going to be a battle.
All three of Milo s career meetings with UCLA have gone the distance, with the Bruins snapping a five-match losing streak against the Waves in Malibu last season.
Matthies likes the timing of the match, especially after watching UCLA sweep USC on Friday.
I think it s good for both of us, said Matthies, who is 7-23 all-time against the Bruins.
They are executing really well, but we can t worry about what they re going to do. We just want to slow them down a little bit.
UCLA s victory over USC gave the Bruins their first sweep over the Women of Troy since 1999 and kept them in the hunt for the Pacific-10 title entering the final week of the regular season. But a loss to Pepperdine could hinder UCLA s chances of securing a top-four seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Everyone knows what they need to do and what they need to get better at, UCLA senior outside hitter Katie Carter said. We have the confidence in each other and we ve held each other accountable because we know what s at stake.
Carter, Kaitlin Sather and Ali Daley will square off at the net with Julie Rubenstein (Oaks Christian of Westlake Village), Rachel Lumsden and Cassi Chamberlain. But the most intriguing matchup will be the showdown between Milo and UCLA All-American Nana Meriwether in the middle.
Each team has its great assets, Milo said. It comes down to us making the best use of our assets and trying to outwork them.
dailynews.com/sports/ci_4689933
ERIK BOAL, Special to the Daily News
A month ago, UCLA and Pepperdine s women s volleyball teams were headed in opposite directions.
The Bruins were coming off a four-game victory at USC in the final volleyball match at the Lyon Center, while the Waves had fallen two matches below .500 after being swept at Loyola Marymount.
Entering tonight s nonconference match, sixth-ranked UCLA (26-3) is again riding high following Friday s sweep of the Women of Troy. But Pepperdine is a far different team than it was in October.
We started our NCAA tournament the night after we lost to Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine coach Nina Matthies said. We said from that point on, we can t lose.
The No. 25 Waves (15-10) responded to the challenge, winning seven in a row, including victories over No. 17 San Diego and No. 22 Santa Clara. Pepperdine swept LMU on Thursday to secure second place in the West Coast Conference.
But Pepperdine s biggest test comes at 7 tonight at Pauley Pavilion, when the Waves will look to record their sixth victory in the past seven meetings with Bruins.
I ve gone 2-1 against them, so my focus is on getting more win against UCLA before I leave here, Pepperdine senior middle blocker Sophia Milo said. It s a fun match because the conference stress is behind us. Both teams usually play well and if we do that again, then it s going to be a battle.
All three of Milo s career meetings with UCLA have gone the distance, with the Bruins snapping a five-match losing streak against the Waves in Malibu last season.
Matthies likes the timing of the match, especially after watching UCLA sweep USC on Friday.
I think it s good for both of us, said Matthies, who is 7-23 all-time against the Bruins.
They are executing really well, but we can t worry about what they re going to do. We just want to slow them down a little bit.
UCLA s victory over USC gave the Bruins their first sweep over the Women of Troy since 1999 and kept them in the hunt for the Pacific-10 title entering the final week of the regular season. But a loss to Pepperdine could hinder UCLA s chances of securing a top-four seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Everyone knows what they need to do and what they need to get better at, UCLA senior outside hitter Katie Carter said. We have the confidence in each other and we ve held each other accountable because we know what s at stake.
Carter, Kaitlin Sather and Ali Daley will square off at the net with Julie Rubenstein (Oaks Christian of Westlake Village), Rachel Lumsden and Cassi Chamberlain. But the most intriguing matchup will be the showdown between Milo and UCLA All-American Nana Meriwether in the middle.
Each team has its great assets, Milo said. It comes down to us making the best use of our assets and trying to outwork them.
dailynews.com/sports/ci_4689933