UCLA Sweeps

[bigfan]

UCLA sweeps Penn for crown
Press-Telegram wire services



UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Second-seeded UCLA captured its NCAA record 19th men's volleyball championship with a 3-0 victory on Saturday over No. 4 Penn State in Rec Hall. The Bruins trailed in all three games, but came back to win each 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.

UCLA vs. Penn State The Bruins (26-12) won their 14th straight match to win their first NCAA crown since 2000. All 19 NCAA crowns have come under coach Al Scates, in his 44th season with the Bruins. UCLA improved to 19-6 in NCAA title matches.
Mark Pavlik's Penn State squad, seeking its second national title, finished with a 21-9 mark.

A boisterous sellout crowd of 5,453 filled Rec Hall for the clash between two of the nation's premier programs. Penn State hosted the NCAA Mens Volleyball Championship for the fourth time overall and second time in five years.

UCLA won the NCAA championship on its opponent's home floor for the third time, defeating UC-Santa Barbara 3-2 in 1974 and Penn State, 3-0, in 1982.

The fourth-seeded Nittany Lions and No. 2 Bruins met for the fourth time in the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship match. All four of Penn State's national title appearances have come against UCLA, with the Bruins owning a 3-1 advantage.

In 1982, UCLA defeated Penn State, 3-0, in Rec Hall. In 1994, the Lions stunned UCLA, 3-2, in Fort Wayne, Ind., becoming the first team east of the Mississippi River to win the national championship.

The teams met again in 1995, with the Bruins winning 3-0 in Springfield, Mass.

UCLA junior opposite Steve Klosterman was selected the Most Outstanding Player of the Championship. He was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Damien Scott and Dennis Gonzalez, Penn State's Dan O'Dell, Matt Proper and Nate Meerstein and UC-Irvine's Jayson Jablonsky.

UCLA owned a 12-12 record on March 16, but began its 14-match winning streak with a 3-2 victory over USC on March 17. The Bruins were the No. 7 seed in the MPSF Tournament, but won four matches to advance to their 25th NCAA Championship.

The Bruins rallied from a 23-20 deficit in game three, taking the lead for good at 25-23. Senior middle hitter Nick Scheftic delivered three kills and a block down the stretch, including the game-winning kill. There were nine ties and three lead changes in the game.

UCLA hit .298 for the match. Klosterman tallied a game-high 14 kills and hit .379 for the match. Scott had 12 kills and hit .556 and Gonzalez had 37 assists.

Senior opposite Proper had 13 kills for the Nittany Lions. O'Dell had 39 assists.

[Beachy]

Congrats to UCLA. They did it the hard way! Now what do we talk about on this board?

[zodrow]

They were just lucky to get dat one! All because they're NOT da best team there is! What, bring it cause damn ucla do SUCKS!!!

[sexy]

congrats to ucla -- are they going to not shave until they lose a match still?? what a weird season - i love it!!

[bigfan]

sexy said:

congrats to ucla -- are they going to not shave until they lose a match still??

Al Scates will no longer shave his head.

[prouddad]

It's how you finish, not how you start. Winning 14 matches in a row is hardly what I would call being lucky.

[Will Rogers Beach]

IMHO, I think winning the MPSF was a taller task since UCLA had to play some higher ranked teams it had lost to during the season. Playing #2 Hawaii at Hawaii (a team that was on a 19-match win streak) was not easy! Playing #3 Pepperdine at the MPSF semi-finals (a team that UCLA has lost to in the last 3 meetings) was not easy. Playing #2 LBSU (another hot team at the stretch and a team who just beat #1 UCI) was not easy. Then, playing a very hot and confident Penn State at their home gym was the ultimate test. At the end, UCLA has proven to be the best team in the nation.

[volleydog]

willrogersbeach said:

IMHO, I think winning the MPSF was a taller task since UCLA had to play some higher ranked teams it had lost to during the season. Playing #2 Hawaii at Hawaii (a team that was on a 19-match win streak) was not easy! Playing #3 Pepperdine at the MPSF semi-finals (a team that UCLA has lost to in the last 3 meetings) was not easy. Playing #2 LBSU (another hot team at the stretch and a team who just beat #1 UCI) was not easy. Then, playing a very hot and confident Penn State at their home gym was the ultimate test. At the end, UCLA has proven to be the best team in the nation.

All excellent points....You just have to tip your hat to the Bruins and Big Al. They got it done when it mattered most.

[VBbeast]

Never let it be said that I am a UCLA fan. However. The stretch run they had was a monumental accomplishment for which they should be given credit.

Congratulations.

[newemail]

I don't like UCLA like many others here. But they are the best team.

BYU has the best group of players if you want to know, but they are the worst team in the nation. Good job UCLA.
I hope this is a lesson for all those teams that think that their record, roster, or jersey color matters when they take the court.

the proof that they are the best team is when they gave the MVP to Klosterman that didn't even play that well. When you have a good team, it is hard to know who the best player is. That was the case!
The best team always, always win. UCLA is the best team! I hate UCLA.

[gitrdun]

UCLA gotrdun
It's that simple

[KO7]

beachy said:

Now what do we talk about on this board?

It's AVP season!!

[mikesmith]

Of course they swept. This year's Championship was the best of them all. I am proud of this team. I can't wait for next year's team.

Also I will be watching the second L.A. team more next year...

CSUN!