Post by bigfan on May 5, 2005 11:55:14 GMT -5
M. volleyball: Volleyball fights for NCAA win at home
Paul Johnson, one of four seniors on this year’s UCLA men’s volleyball team, will look to lead the third-seeded Bruins past second-seeded Penn State in the NCAA Semifinals tonight at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA, with by far the most successful men’s volleyball program in the nation, has not won a national title in five years, the longest drought in school history.
By Michael Wozny
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
mwozny@media.ucla.edu
The UCLA men's volleyball team has never lost a game in the NCAA Tournament when it has been held at Pauley Pavilion.
And it certainly doesn't intend to start now.
When the Bruins face Penn State in the NCAA Semifinals tonight, they will be backed by a 24-0 record on their home court, which has led to nine of their 18 NCAA titles.
"This is our domain, and it's great that we're playing here," senior Paul Johnson said. "It's a huge advantage to play at home, and winning the championship on our home court has been the single goal all season. It's a big game with a lot of pressure, but I think we can handle it."
Even Penn State coach Mark Pavlik recognized the aura that surrounds Pauley Pavilion and the venue's place in volleyball history.
"Playing at Pauley for the NCAA Championships of men's volleyball I would imagine is like playing the World Series at Yankee Stadium," Pavlik said. "There's so much heritage and volleyball history here. It's a great opportunity for us. This is the kind of environment you want to play in."
If the Bruins are to play for a record 19th NCAA Championship on Saturday, they must first dispatch of a tough Penn State team that has won 14 consecutive games and has reached the Final Four seven consecutive times.
The Nittany Lions' last loss was almost two months ago to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. Before that, they had won 16 straight. In that match, the Bruins' nine serving aces, combined with poor Penn State passing, led to a quick UCLA 3-0 win. But Scates noted that there were multiple areas where Penn State outplayed UCLA.
"Penn State is a great opponent, and they are really good at getting the ball to the best hitter," UCLA coach Al Scates said. "They outhit us, they outdug us, they outblocked us. The only thing we did was win."
Despite Penn State's recent success and No. 2 national ranking, the Bruins are confident of a win over the Nittany Lions.
"I don't think the match will be a lot different from the last time we played them," Scates said. "Our jump servers are going to go back and cause some problems. If they've improved their passing since we saw them, they'll be very difficult to beat, but if they haven't, the result should be the same."
With players such as Nate Meerstein, who is second in the country in hitting percentage with .521, and Keith Kowal, who paces the nation in blocking with 1.73 per game, the Nittany Lions may provide the Bruins with more than a light challenge. "We're in a position where we hope to do some things that I think we're ready to do at this point," said Pavlik, whose team leads the nation in hitting percentage. "It's going to be a great match, and we have a legitimate shot."
While the Bruins remain confident that the result will be the same, the UCLA lineup that will take the court will be markedly different than the one that disposed of Penn State in the teams' first meeting.
The Bruins have two new setters in Aaron Dodd and Gaby Acevedo vying for the starting spot once occupied by now-injured Dennis Gonzalez. Additionally, middle blocker Allan Vince is questionable for tonight's match after injuring his ankle in Tuesday's practice. Nonetheless, the players feel they will be comfortable with the new lineup.
"We have gotten into more of a flow lately as the setters have gotten used to us and we have gotten used to them," senior Kris Kraushaar said. "Last week's practices really helped that. We've also been working on our defense around the block because that is something we've been struggling with."
The main feeling on the team is one of anticipation, as the Bruins can finally achieve the goal they have been working toward all season. After coming close to missing out on the NCAA Tournament entirely, tonight's match is also the ultimate second chance for redemption.
"Getting a second chance and being able to play again is a godsend," senior Vince said. "It's a feeling of pure adrenaline, and we're ready to secure our first win of the tournament."
In addition to excitement, the team feels a sense of urgency, not wanting to become the second consecutive Bruin team to have its seniors graduate without winning a national championship.
"Not having won in five years is a huge weight on us and it just gets heavier and heavier every year," Johnson said. "It felt really bad to be a part of a team that had guys graduate without a ring for the first time. This year we have to get it done so that it doesn't happen again." With an unbeaten NCAA record at home and the hope of their first championship in five years riding on tonight's game, the Bruins feel they are ready.
"There is a huge amount of pressure, but we've gotten this far, and we just have to play well for two more matches," Kraushaar said. "I'd really like to win my last collegiate volleyball match."
Paul Johnson, one of four seniors on this year’s UCLA men’s volleyball team, will look to lead the third-seeded Bruins past second-seeded Penn State in the NCAA Semifinals tonight at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA, with by far the most successful men’s volleyball program in the nation, has not won a national title in five years, the longest drought in school history.
By Michael Wozny
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
mwozny@media.ucla.edu
The UCLA men's volleyball team has never lost a game in the NCAA Tournament when it has been held at Pauley Pavilion.
And it certainly doesn't intend to start now.
When the Bruins face Penn State in the NCAA Semifinals tonight, they will be backed by a 24-0 record on their home court, which has led to nine of their 18 NCAA titles.
"This is our domain, and it's great that we're playing here," senior Paul Johnson said. "It's a huge advantage to play at home, and winning the championship on our home court has been the single goal all season. It's a big game with a lot of pressure, but I think we can handle it."
Even Penn State coach Mark Pavlik recognized the aura that surrounds Pauley Pavilion and the venue's place in volleyball history.
"Playing at Pauley for the NCAA Championships of men's volleyball I would imagine is like playing the World Series at Yankee Stadium," Pavlik said. "There's so much heritage and volleyball history here. It's a great opportunity for us. This is the kind of environment you want to play in."
If the Bruins are to play for a record 19th NCAA Championship on Saturday, they must first dispatch of a tough Penn State team that has won 14 consecutive games and has reached the Final Four seven consecutive times.
The Nittany Lions' last loss was almost two months ago to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. Before that, they had won 16 straight. In that match, the Bruins' nine serving aces, combined with poor Penn State passing, led to a quick UCLA 3-0 win. But Scates noted that there were multiple areas where Penn State outplayed UCLA.
"Penn State is a great opponent, and they are really good at getting the ball to the best hitter," UCLA coach Al Scates said. "They outhit us, they outdug us, they outblocked us. The only thing we did was win."
Despite Penn State's recent success and No. 2 national ranking, the Bruins are confident of a win over the Nittany Lions.
"I don't think the match will be a lot different from the last time we played them," Scates said. "Our jump servers are going to go back and cause some problems. If they've improved their passing since we saw them, they'll be very difficult to beat, but if they haven't, the result should be the same."
With players such as Nate Meerstein, who is second in the country in hitting percentage with .521, and Keith Kowal, who paces the nation in blocking with 1.73 per game, the Nittany Lions may provide the Bruins with more than a light challenge. "We're in a position where we hope to do some things that I think we're ready to do at this point," said Pavlik, whose team leads the nation in hitting percentage. "It's going to be a great match, and we have a legitimate shot."
While the Bruins remain confident that the result will be the same, the UCLA lineup that will take the court will be markedly different than the one that disposed of Penn State in the teams' first meeting.
The Bruins have two new setters in Aaron Dodd and Gaby Acevedo vying for the starting spot once occupied by now-injured Dennis Gonzalez. Additionally, middle blocker Allan Vince is questionable for tonight's match after injuring his ankle in Tuesday's practice. Nonetheless, the players feel they will be comfortable with the new lineup.
"We have gotten into more of a flow lately as the setters have gotten used to us and we have gotten used to them," senior Kris Kraushaar said. "Last week's practices really helped that. We've also been working on our defense around the block because that is something we've been struggling with."
The main feeling on the team is one of anticipation, as the Bruins can finally achieve the goal they have been working toward all season. After coming close to missing out on the NCAA Tournament entirely, tonight's match is also the ultimate second chance for redemption.
"Getting a second chance and being able to play again is a godsend," senior Vince said. "It's a feeling of pure adrenaline, and we're ready to secure our first win of the tournament."
In addition to excitement, the team feels a sense of urgency, not wanting to become the second consecutive Bruin team to have its seniors graduate without winning a national championship.
"Not having won in five years is a huge weight on us and it just gets heavier and heavier every year," Johnson said. "It felt really bad to be a part of a team that had guys graduate without a ring for the first time. This year we have to get it done so that it doesn't happen again." With an unbeaten NCAA record at home and the hope of their first championship in five years riding on tonight's game, the Bruins feel they are ready.
"There is a huge amount of pressure, but we've gotten this far, and we just have to play well for two more matches," Kraushaar said. "I'd really like to win my last collegiate volleyball match."