UH, UCLA set to renew their rivalry

[V]

Warriors will try to get 2 more wins at Pauley Pavilion

No. 2 Hawaii plays No. 8 UCLA in a pair of key MPSF matches this weekend

By Grace Wen
[e-mail]

Second-ranked Hawaii has one more major Mountain Pacific Sports Federation series before it faces the less mighty portion of its MPSF schedule.

The Warriors (13-5, 7-5) are in Los Angeles to play eighth-ranked UCLA tomorrow and Saturday at 5 p.m. Hawaii time. It's no secret that, win or lose, matches against the Bruins (13-9, 8-7) are always huge.

But given the mixed records of both schools, these matches won't seal either team's postseason fate. The Warriors are in fourth place in the league standings and would secure a home match for the first round of playoffs if they hold onto their spot. UCLA, however, is tied for seventh in the conference standings. Only the top eight teams make the postseason tournament.

"These matches don't make or break seasons but we're going there fully intent on winning both," Warriors coach Mike Wilton said. "This year, whoever gets in the playoffs and gets it going at that time of the year could go all the way. That could be the case for a lot of teams. We have two seasons going on here. We're five games into the real season."

Hawaii isn't the only team that feels like it has played two different seasons. In the first month of MPSF play, UCLA went 1-5 and suffered through its worst conference start in school history with a rash of injuries.

Twenty-two players have gotten on the court for UCLA this season, a testament to the numerous injuries and instability that plagued UCLA earlier this season. Only libero Adam Shrader has played in all 79 games.

"Right now we're in the best shape of the season," UCLA coach Al Scates said. "I guess it really doesn't matter as long as you can make the playoffs. That's our goal. We finally managed to be tied for seventh, so we may be a contender."

The Bruins have gotten healthier and begun to smooth out many rough edges. They've won seven of their last nine matches, including a four-game win against then-No. 4 UC Irvine last weekend. The addition of freshman Matt McKinney from the basketball team has helped. Senior middle blocker Scott Morrow is also back in the lineup after undergoing quadriceps tendon surgery in November.

"We dug a huge hole, but it looks like we're going to get out of it," Scates said. "We've played all the weaker teams when we were playing horribly. Now we've got all the stronger teams to play. We're in a better position now to handle the stronger teams now than we were earlier."

Hawaii senior Tony Ching doesn't care that UCLA is better now. Ching wants to put the hurt on the Bruins just as badly as ever. Though Pepperdine has been Hawaii's main rival the last two years, there's no other team the Warriors enjoy beating more than UCLA.

"I just grew up watching UCLA beat up on us, so I want to go and beat up on them," Ching said. "It's just like rivalries week in college basketball. It's fun to beat up on them. It's just fun to play against them really.

"There have been times where we were injured and they beat up on us. It doesn't matter who's on the court or how good a team is. It's always going to be up for grabs when we play against them. That's just the way it is when we play against them."

Ching missed Hawaii's historic win at Pauley Pavilion in 2001 because of a mo-ped accident. It was the first Hawaii victory at UCLA in 18 years.

A year ago, the Warriors won both UCLA matches at home to take the series for the first time in 14 years. In spite of the victories, Ching still feels he has a debt to repay.

"I have this personal vendetta with this team," Ching said. "Last year after we beat them, some old guy, one of the parents of the team that traveled down here last year, he yelled at me when I ran up to the stands to see my parents after the game was over.

"He just told me, 'Don't act like we won a national championship yet,' but that kind of blew up in his face at the end of the year. It's going to be nice if he's still there. I have no idea who he is, but I remember this man's face."

Notes: KKEA 1420-AM will not be broadcasting this series, but Warrior fans can catch the match on UCLA's audio webcast at uclabruins.ocsn.com. Lou Riggs, Paul Nihipali and Mike Sondheimer will call the action. ... Freshman Pedro Azenha was not one of the 12 players on the travel roster. Azenha returned to practice on Monday and will compete for a suit-up spot next week. ... Hawaii trails the all-time series 41-12.

[warriordudette88]

personally, watching costas trying to celebrate a kill or block is the most hilarious part of a hawaii volleyball match. also, i read all the articles on this hawaii-ucla series and it's really getting interesting. every year there is so much hype going into this because there is such a great rivalry. the comments that ucla makes are always interesting, and hawaii gives it right back to them. i'm looking forward to this weekend's matches and i really want the warriors to sweep the bruins. it'll probably be a dogfight to the end, but i know the guys can pull it out. maybe costas will come up with a new celebration if we win.

[Roxiberry]

I've been a longtime faithful fan of the Warriors, and I was wondering just how this whole rivalry got started with UCLA. It's similar to the of UH and BYU football: The rivalry's been exciting for both fans and the players for years, but no one's sure of its origin.

It's been a great, fun ride, so far, and as a Warrior supporter, I'm putting my money on them for at least splitting with the Bruins @ Pauley. Anyway, as far as I know, the first time I remember UCLA rubbing UH the wrong way was in the 1996 Championship match when UCLA beat UH in 5 with UH up 2-0. Someone correct me if the bad feelings go back farther than this.

Psst...Costas' dancing is awesome. It's what makes going to the games a hell of a good time. Shake that ghetto booty of yours, Costas! Give J.Lo a run for her money!

[roy]

Roxiberry said:

I've been a longtime faithful fan of the Warriors, and I was wondering just how this whole rivalry got started with UCLA. It's similar to the of UH and BYU football: The rivalry's been exciting for both fans and the players for years, but no one's sure of its origin.

It's been a great, fun ride, so far, and as a Warrior supporter, I'm putting my money on them for at least splitting with the Bruins @ Pauley. Anyway, as far as I know, the first time I remember UCLA rubbing UH the wrong way was in the 1996 Championship match when UCLA beat UH in 5 with UH up 2-0. Someone correct me if the bad feelings go back farther than this.

Psst...Costas' dancing is awesome. It's what makes going to the games a hell of a good time. Shake that ghetto booty of yours, Costas! Give J.Lo a run for her money!

Here is how I think the rivalry started.

Pre "Katz" Era (Before 1995). Few wins by the Hawaii men and we didn't really compete for a national title. No one was really concerned with Hawaii losing to UCLA. Hawaii watches the local talent fly away to UCLA for volleyball.

1995: Enter Yuval Katz. I think we did well that year and beat UCLA for the first time in a long time. We won the Outrigger Classic by beating UCLA. Hawaii wins the at large big for the Final Four but loses to Penn State and watches UCLA win the title.

1996: Hawaii again wins the Outrigger Classic but loses to UCLA. Hawaii does win the sole conference match against UCLA at Hawaii but loses the next night. MPSF tournament is played in Hawaii and Hawaii fans watch UCLA win the tournament as UCSB upsets Hawaii in the semis but loses to UCLA. Hawaii and UCLA play for the national title with UCLA coming up the winner and walking away with the title. Hawaii fans are not happy.

1997: Not much that year. Cant remember a whole lot. UCLA is the runner up to Stanford.

1998: Final Four in Hawaii and UCLA walks away with the national title on Hawaii's home court. Our sensational senior class doesn't get to play on our home court but has to watch. Hawaii fans cheer on underdog Lewis who pushes UCLA to 5 games.

1999: BYU was the obvious team to beat and not much happened until the MPSF playoffs. Hawaii knocks off UCLA in the first round and effectively eliminates UCLA's chances of going to the Final Four. First time since 1992 that UCLA is not invited to the Final Four.

2000: The "Costas" Era begins. Costas is introduced to Hawaii. Hawaii did well that year, but lost to UCLA in the Outrigger. Big incident when Ed Ratledge steps on Hawaii's setter Krejci's hand in the warm-ups. Hawaii loses a 5 game match and I think lost both matches in Hawaii to UCLA. And UCLA goes on to win a national title.

2001: Hawaii wins for the first time at UCLA since the 1980s when Dave Shoji was the head coach of the men. Costas does his famous victory dance and UCLA isn't happy about that. UCLA's revenge: knock Hawaii out of the Finals of the MPSF tournament and Hawaii does not go to the Final Four.

2002: UCLA wins the Outrigger but Hawaii sweeps the series. UCLA said some things in the newspaper that wasn't nice and thats when the trash-talking really started. UCLA is eliminated from the MPSF tournament by UCSB who lost to Hawaii in the next round. Hawaii goes on to win a national championship.

2003: Hawaii does not invite UCLA to the Outrigger Tournament. And soon, the series opener will start...more to come in the next 48 hours.


I think this is correct. Any corrections or additions, please let me know.

[Will Rogers Beach]

Wow, you're a walking volleyball encyclopedia!

Just to add to your facts - the Bruins lead the series 41-12. But, the Warriors seem to be winning the most recent games.

The Bruins just upset Arizona in basketball in the Pac-10 conference. I'm not sure how this is going to play out with the Bruins men's volleyball players since the semi's (UCLA vs Oregon) are also tonight. This might be a distraction to some of the Bruin players. Matt McKinney is also part of the basketball team. But, this might also fire them up to turn around their lackluster season. Like basketball, this is perhaps volleyball's worst season at UCLA.

Whatever happens, I just want to see a well fought game. It's always fun to watch these 2 teams play on the volleyball court.

Aloha oe!

[Rollshot]

Hey roy,

That was a very impressive history lesson ...and gripping. To the extent your facts are right, the folks at Volleyball Magazine should put up your post as one of their feature articles!

The only thing missing from your post (and it's a teensy weensy thing) is the one intangible that irks a lot of Hawaii fans -- A lot of great volleyball kids from the islands head over to UCLA (and I guess Pepperdine) to play college vb instead of staying home and playing for UH. Again, this is just a tiny factor that plays into the UCLA-UH rivalry. Otherwise, UCLA is dominating so much that it's not even a rivalry without UH's recent success and the exodus of vb talent from the islands to UCLA.

[kulasoft]

Don't forget that Ed Ratledge incident in 2000 when he landed on Stefan Krejci's hand while jump serving during warmups. He was roundly booed at every opportunity after that.

the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2000/Jan/30/sports1.html

www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/issues/00/01.31/sports.mvolleyball.html

Before that, I remember something happening with Paul Nihipali. He was a favorite of the boo birds too.

[Netter]

If memory serves me correctly...

I think it was in 1997 at the Outrigger, Nihipali had a great match and UCLA won. There was some trash talking during match -- both ways, but I don't remember specifics. Upon the conclusion of the match he jumped up on one of the media tables to taunt the crowd. That's why we all kept booing him when UCLA came back for the conference matches. I'd still boo him today if I had the chance for his attitude back then.

By the way, that Ratledge guy was a jerk in that Krejci incident (I sit near where it happened). More so than any other team visiting Hawaii, UCLA teams seem to infringe upon the opponents side of the court during the shared-court warmup periods (do any mainland fans notice this at your home games?). That's how Ratledge stepped on Stefan. Stefan was trying to stretch out and Ratledge jump serves and in the process of following into the court lands on Krejci. I've never heckled anyone so much as that night. He lit us up, though. He clearly was the difference that night. Must have had nearly 40 kills. I'm sure all the booing really jacked him up.

[sweetieVBfan]

i was never a big fan of krecji - bad attitude, not committed enough to the team; but i clearly remember being like 16 and watching that game at the ssc, and seeing that. and the thing i remember most is that the UCLA squad jumped right in stefan's face and acted as if it was HIS fault.

whoa.

[kulasoft]

I was looking up the Paul Nihipali antics and yes he was booed heavily at the 1997 Outrigger. But evidently the booing began in the March 1996 series in Hawaii when he had words with Aaron Wilton.

In a turn, Nihipali was cheered at the 1996 MPSF Championships in Hawaii after UCSB upset the Rainbows in the semis and Hawaii would have a better chance for the Final Four if UCLA defeated UCSB for the MPSF championship. He wound up with school record 51 kills (the Daily Bruin story has it as 52).

groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=3192365C.614F%40hawaii.edu

Ah what fun memories.

Nihipali is scheduled to be the color announcer on the UCLA broadcast and of course Aaron Wilton will be there as an assistant coach.

[kulasoft]

Another article. According to Bill Kwon's story, it all started when Nihipali wagged a finger at Naveh Milo.

starbulletin.com/96/04/30/sports/kwon.html

Of no relevance, Kwon was the sports editor for the Star Bulletin and retired when the new owners came in. He now writes occasionally about golf for the Advertiser.

Enough, the game is about to begin. I'll probably listen to the volleyball on the internet while watching the WAC basketball playoff game on TV.

[warriordudette88]

yeah, i was there when that krejci-ratledge incident happened. it happened just when the warriors (or rainbows then) had sat down to stretch. the ucla guys were standing and serving on the hawaii side like they owned the court when they should have been on the other side. when ratledge stepped on krejci's hand, i saw stefan stand up and then some ucla guys came over. i thought i saw tony ching come charging over there, but fortunately dejan came over and very calmly had a conversation with ratledge. of course, ratledge was thoroughly booed by the hawaii crowd the whole night.

[another one]

Just thought I'd add in today's article before the game. Doesn't the headline make you laugh (how can they peak in the playoffs if they don't make it in?) Anyways, seems like more namecalling. Don't ya just love the rivalry. Go Warriors!


UCLA volleyball planning to peak in playoffs

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

UCLA coach Al Scates admitted to relishing the chance for his men's volleyball team to host Hawai'i today and tomorrow.

Then again, after a rare poor start in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Scates said, "I've circled every conference match on my calendar."

The Bruins, who lost five of their first six MPSF matches, are 8-7 and in a three-way fight for the last two berths in the conference tournament.

Still, Scates remains unfazed, using 22 players this season as part of his long-term plan. Scates said his everybody-plays system will help the Bruins prepare for the MPSF Tournament, which assures the winner a berth in the NCAA final four.

"Ever since the league format changed," Scates said, "and the team with the best (regular-season) league record doesn't become an automatic choice, what you have to do is peak for the playoffs and win three (tournament) matches. That's what we have to do. We're not going (to the final four) as the (regular-season) runner-up."

While acknowledging the reward system motivates a team to play well in the MPSF Tournament, UH coach Mike Wilton scoffed at Scates' reasons for using so many players.

"He's a spin doctor," Wilton said.

Wilton added: "I think he plays people until they do bad, and then he takes them out. ... He plays to win, as most coaches do. If people think he plays a lot of people because he's a good guy, that's baloney. If he's playing a lot of people, it's because someone's not getting it done."

The Bruins might have finally settled on some starters. Scates said middle blocker Scott Morrow is nearly healed from off-season surgery to repair an injured quadriceps.

Scates said the initial procedure did not work, and during the second operation, tendons were fused together.

"Hopefully, by the playoffs, we'll be 100 percent," Scates said.

He said Matt McKinney, a redshirt on the Bruin basketball team, is developing as an opposite hitter. McKinney had split practice time between the teams.

"He hasn't really been an asset for us until this point," Scates said. "We had to help him get into volleyball shape."

Now that McKinney is practicing full-time with the volleyball team, Scates said, "He'll be a pretty good volleyball player."

Wilton said he does not plan any changes in the lineup that has won four of the last five matches.

[EP]

roy said:

1996: Hawaii again wins the Outrigger Classic but loses to UCLA. Hawaii does win the sole conference match against UCLA at Hawaii but loses the next night. MPSF tournament is played in Hawaii and Hawaii fans watch UCLA win the tournament as UCSB upsets Hawaii in the semis but loses to UCLA. Hawaii and UCLA play for the national title with UCLA coming up the winner and walking away with the title. Hawaii fans are not happy.

Actually Hawaii did beat UCLA in the Outrigger Classic

Hawai'i def. UCLA 3-2, attendance of
9,673 at Hawai'i, Yuval Katz 35 kills

They did split 2 matches later in the season

Match 1 10-15, 15-4, 15-11, 15-13 Hawaii
Match 2 15-12, 16-14, 6-15, 5-15, 15-12 UCLA

Some notes from the match 1

>Game 4 was a repeat of 3. Hawaii was up early and UCLA struggled
>back. Coach Scates tried a different stall tactic...getting a yellow
>card for arguing what he thought was a lift by Katz. In my opinion
>the card was way overdue, but he wasn't the one who deserved it.

>The first who should have gotten one is Metzger. After getting no support
>from the up ref on what he thought was a touch, he pulled a temper
>tantrum and yanked on the towel that hangs across the bottom of the
>net. Then net shook vigorously, showing the force he put into the display.

>Next on the list is Nihipali. After
getting stuffed, he put down a fairly forceful kill. With that, he
>stood right at the net facing the rainbow side and started a childish
>tirade of yelling and flapping his arms like he was trying to take
>off.

>Bows win the game and match, fittingly, on a Naveh Milo kill.
>Final note: Katz 43 kills, Milo 26. Nihipali 39 kills

>In the newspaper here, Coach Scates was reported to have said some
>things about the Israelites like..and don't quote me on this...it's
>like playing Tel Aviv University, and the new Hawaii fight song is
>that Russian or Jewish ditty that they play at parties.

Nice Al

Ravi Narasimhan
Dept. of Physics, UCLA