Post by bigfan on May 3, 2006 10:59:09 GMT -5
Getting a second chance at the Final Four
Senior starter recovers from injuries just in time to make up for last season’s lost opportunity
Senior Dennis Gonzalez lost his starting job to freshman Matt Wade after an ankle injury, but has recently regained his role as UCLA completed its run to the Final Four.
When senior Dennis Gonzalez steps on the court at the NCAA Championships on Thursday, it will not be his first time starting for the Bruins.
Gonzalez, after all, has been the men's volleyball team's primary starting setter for the past three seasons and is one of the top setters in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
But in a way, it will seem as if Gonzalez is walking onto the court for the first time – he now has the opportunity to make up for last year's NCAA Championships, which he was forced to sit out of with a broken finger.
"It's just a blessing," Gonzalez said of his second chance. "To be able to participate and contribute to my team, I'm just so fortunate.
"After the way we started this year, I didn't know whether I would be able to have that chance again."
Gonzalez knows the importance of each and every last game more than anyone because he almost did not have the chance to participate on this year's Final Four team.
Gonzalez sat out six matches earlier this season with an ankle injury and lost his starting job midway through the season to freshman Matt Wade.
But Gonzalez did not get discouraged by his limited playing time.
"I knew that if I kept working hard and just recovered from the injury, everything would be fine," Gonzalez said. "Its my senior year, so I knew I had to do everything I could."
Gonzalez has certainly taken advantage of his opportunity to be back. He made his first start in 12 matches last Thursday against Pepperdine in the MPSF semifinals and led the Bruins to two of their best hitting performances of the year while helping the Bruins capture their improbable conference championship.
In both matches, the Bruins converted points on more than 50 percent of Gonzalez's sets.
"Dennis has just been doing an awesome job lately," coach Al Scates said. "We knew we had a capable replacement in Matt, but he just doesn't have the experience Dennis does."
"Dennis is a very knowledgeable player out there on the court."
While Gonzalez has sometimes been overshadowed by the likes of Long Beach State senior Tyler Hildenbrand and Pepperdine sophomore Jonathan Winder, both of whom were named to the All-MPSF teams this season, Gonzalez knows his job is simple. He doesn't play beyond his role.
"We have some great talent on our team," Gonzalez said. "So I know if I put the ball out there for them, they will go out there and hit it.
"They are the ones that deserve the credit."
But if Gonzalez and his teammates can find a way to win two more matches, it won't matter who deserves the credit.
All the Bruins, including Gonzalez, will be national champions.
"Its just crazy to think about it," Gonzalez said. "I can't wait."
IPFW STREAKING: UCLA's opponent for Thursday, Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, has won 21 of its past 22 matches and come in on fire for the semifinal matchup.
The Mastodons, the champions of the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, are making their fifth trip to the NCAA Championships, their most recent trip coming in 1999.
The Mastodons are led by senior middle hitter Serdar Sikca and sophomore opposite CJ Macias, both of whom were first team MIVA selections.
"We haven't watched any tape of them, but I'm sure they will be tough," sophomore libero Tony Ker said. "I know Macias is their go-to hitter, and we will most likely be focusing on him."
KER SELECTED: Ker was selected out of 300 athletes to represent UCLA at the 10th annual NCAA Leadership Conference, held in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. from May 28 to June 1.
Senior starter recovers from injuries just in time to make up for last season’s lost opportunity
Senior Dennis Gonzalez lost his starting job to freshman Matt Wade after an ankle injury, but has recently regained his role as UCLA completed its run to the Final Four.
When senior Dennis Gonzalez steps on the court at the NCAA Championships on Thursday, it will not be his first time starting for the Bruins.
Gonzalez, after all, has been the men's volleyball team's primary starting setter for the past three seasons and is one of the top setters in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
But in a way, it will seem as if Gonzalez is walking onto the court for the first time – he now has the opportunity to make up for last year's NCAA Championships, which he was forced to sit out of with a broken finger.
"It's just a blessing," Gonzalez said of his second chance. "To be able to participate and contribute to my team, I'm just so fortunate.
"After the way we started this year, I didn't know whether I would be able to have that chance again."
Gonzalez knows the importance of each and every last game more than anyone because he almost did not have the chance to participate on this year's Final Four team.
Gonzalez sat out six matches earlier this season with an ankle injury and lost his starting job midway through the season to freshman Matt Wade.
But Gonzalez did not get discouraged by his limited playing time.
"I knew that if I kept working hard and just recovered from the injury, everything would be fine," Gonzalez said. "Its my senior year, so I knew I had to do everything I could."
Gonzalez has certainly taken advantage of his opportunity to be back. He made his first start in 12 matches last Thursday against Pepperdine in the MPSF semifinals and led the Bruins to two of their best hitting performances of the year while helping the Bruins capture their improbable conference championship.
In both matches, the Bruins converted points on more than 50 percent of Gonzalez's sets.
"Dennis has just been doing an awesome job lately," coach Al Scates said. "We knew we had a capable replacement in Matt, but he just doesn't have the experience Dennis does."
"Dennis is a very knowledgeable player out there on the court."
While Gonzalez has sometimes been overshadowed by the likes of Long Beach State senior Tyler Hildenbrand and Pepperdine sophomore Jonathan Winder, both of whom were named to the All-MPSF teams this season, Gonzalez knows his job is simple. He doesn't play beyond his role.
"We have some great talent on our team," Gonzalez said. "So I know if I put the ball out there for them, they will go out there and hit it.
"They are the ones that deserve the credit."
But if Gonzalez and his teammates can find a way to win two more matches, it won't matter who deserves the credit.
All the Bruins, including Gonzalez, will be national champions.
"Its just crazy to think about it," Gonzalez said. "I can't wait."
IPFW STREAKING: UCLA's opponent for Thursday, Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, has won 21 of its past 22 matches and come in on fire for the semifinal matchup.
The Mastodons, the champions of the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, are making their fifth trip to the NCAA Championships, their most recent trip coming in 1999.
The Mastodons are led by senior middle hitter Serdar Sikca and sophomore opposite CJ Macias, both of whom were first team MIVA selections.
"We haven't watched any tape of them, but I'm sure they will be tough," sophomore libero Tony Ker said. "I know Macias is their go-to hitter, and we will most likely be focusing on him."
KER SELECTED: Ker was selected out of 300 athletes to represent UCLA at the 10th annual NCAA Leadership Conference, held in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. from May 28 to June 1.
