Post by roofed! on Nov 17, 2006 13:45:29 GMT -5
From Daily Bruin:
Rivalry has postseason implications
UCLA and USC meet in Pauley with both teams trying to boost their tournament seeding
By Ben Azar
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
With each match that the UCLA women's volleyball team has played over the past couple of weeks, the stakes have been raised.
It's only fitting that the climax of that run happens at home against the Bruins' bitter rival.
When No. 6 UCLA (25-3, 12-3 Pac-10) takes on No. 4 USC (23-3, 12-3) tonight in Pauley Pavilion, a lot more than pride will be on the line.
"It's for a higher spot in the Pac-10 standings, certainly," coach Andy Banachowski said. "That's also going to play an important part in the (NCAA Tournament) seeding when that comes out."
After the Trojans swept Stanford in the Bay Area last week and the Bruins fell to the Cardinal the next day, USC leapfrogged UCLA in the rankings.
The Trojans stunned the Cardinal, who swept USC at the Galen Center just a month earlier.
"They're coming off a big weekend, especially with the Stanford win," senior middle blocker Nana Meriwether said. "They've really developed their offense."
The last time the Bruins faced the Trojans, on Oct. 20 in the Lyon Center, UCLA's quick attacking offense and strong defense was too much for USC.
The Bruins defeated the Trojans 3-1 (25-30, 30-20, 30-24, 30-22), snapping an 11-match losing streak that extended back to the year 2000, long before any of the current Bruins were on the team.
The Bruins will be looking for a repeat performance at home tonight. Banachowski is confident about the matchup.
"In the end, our speed and quickness was able to overcome the power game that they played (in the last match)," Banachowski said. "That's the contest and the strategy that's going on out there and we're going to work to see that we prevail again."
While the Bruins have accomplished the goal of beating USC this season already, they still have not recorded a home victory against the Trojans since 2000.
Each year, the veteran Bruin players have had to suffer the pain of defeat in front of their biggest crowd of the year and watch the fans silently exit the arena.
That's something that doesn't sit well with the Bruins, particularly not with the seniors on the team.
"We always have a huge crowd, it's always a great game – they push, push, push and we always let the crowd down," senior outside hitter Katie Carter said. "This year, it would make that experience so much better just to have everyone rush the court kind of like we did at 'SC, but with more people on our side."
After playing the Trojans, the Bruins have three more home matches before the postseason starts, against Pepperdine, Oregon and Oregon State.
A win tonight would not only put the Bruins in a better position heading into postseason, but it would mark the completion of a dream for the Bruins to sweep the Trojans.
"It would just be kind of a relief," Carter said. "I could say that while I was at UCLA, we took over USC when it counted the most."
BRUINS SIGN THREE: UCLA announced three signings for the 2007 season on Wednesday.
Joining the Bruins next year will be 5-foot-10-inch outside hitter Dicey McGraw (Santa Margarita HS), 6-foot-3-inch middle blocker Katie Mills (Grandview HS, Aurora, Colo.) and 6-foot-1-inch setter Stephanie Nucci (Gilbert HS, Gilbert, Ariz.).
"We have brought in another solid class of student-athletes," Banachowski said. "They will fill our needs created by our departing senior class."
Rivalry has postseason implications
UCLA and USC meet in Pauley with both teams trying to boost their tournament seeding
By Ben Azar
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
With each match that the UCLA women's volleyball team has played over the past couple of weeks, the stakes have been raised.
It's only fitting that the climax of that run happens at home against the Bruins' bitter rival.
When No. 6 UCLA (25-3, 12-3 Pac-10) takes on No. 4 USC (23-3, 12-3) tonight in Pauley Pavilion, a lot more than pride will be on the line.
"It's for a higher spot in the Pac-10 standings, certainly," coach Andy Banachowski said. "That's also going to play an important part in the (NCAA Tournament) seeding when that comes out."
After the Trojans swept Stanford in the Bay Area last week and the Bruins fell to the Cardinal the next day, USC leapfrogged UCLA in the rankings.
The Trojans stunned the Cardinal, who swept USC at the Galen Center just a month earlier.
"They're coming off a big weekend, especially with the Stanford win," senior middle blocker Nana Meriwether said. "They've really developed their offense."
The last time the Bruins faced the Trojans, on Oct. 20 in the Lyon Center, UCLA's quick attacking offense and strong defense was too much for USC.
The Bruins defeated the Trojans 3-1 (25-30, 30-20, 30-24, 30-22), snapping an 11-match losing streak that extended back to the year 2000, long before any of the current Bruins were on the team.
The Bruins will be looking for a repeat performance at home tonight. Banachowski is confident about the matchup.
"In the end, our speed and quickness was able to overcome the power game that they played (in the last match)," Banachowski said. "That's the contest and the strategy that's going on out there and we're going to work to see that we prevail again."
While the Bruins have accomplished the goal of beating USC this season already, they still have not recorded a home victory against the Trojans since 2000.
Each year, the veteran Bruin players have had to suffer the pain of defeat in front of their biggest crowd of the year and watch the fans silently exit the arena.
That's something that doesn't sit well with the Bruins, particularly not with the seniors on the team.
"We always have a huge crowd, it's always a great game – they push, push, push and we always let the crowd down," senior outside hitter Katie Carter said. "This year, it would make that experience so much better just to have everyone rush the court kind of like we did at 'SC, but with more people on our side."
After playing the Trojans, the Bruins have three more home matches before the postseason starts, against Pepperdine, Oregon and Oregon State.
A win tonight would not only put the Bruins in a better position heading into postseason, but it would mark the completion of a dream for the Bruins to sweep the Trojans.
"It would just be kind of a relief," Carter said. "I could say that while I was at UCLA, we took over USC when it counted the most."
BRUINS SIGN THREE: UCLA announced three signings for the 2007 season on Wednesday.
Joining the Bruins next year will be 5-foot-10-inch outside hitter Dicey McGraw (Santa Margarita HS), 6-foot-3-inch middle blocker Katie Mills (Grandview HS, Aurora, Colo.) and 6-foot-1-inch setter Stephanie Nucci (Gilbert HS, Gilbert, Ariz.).
"We have brought in another solid class of student-athletes," Banachowski said. "They will fill our needs created by our departing senior class."