UCLA
UC Santa Barbara
Bruins Rally to Defeat Gauchos in Four
February 18, 2004 | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 18, 2004
The second-ranked UCLA men's volleyball team defeated No.7 UC Santa Barbara 3-1 Wednesday night in a key Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match for both teams.
The Bruins won 23-30, 30-18, 30-25, 30-22 in one hour and 55 minutes before 432 fans in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA raised its record to 12-2 overall and 7-2 in league play. UCSB fell to 8-5, 4-4.
After hitting just .128 and losing Game 1, the Bruins caught fire and burned the Gauchos for a .571 attack percentage in the final three games. Freshman opposite Steve Klosterman, starting his first match at outside hitter, moved back to opposite after Game 1 and recorded 20 kills and hit .567 in the final three games. Overall, he led both teams with 24 kills (.425) and 24.5 points. Senior J.T. Wenger, who came off the bench in Game 2, smashed 20 kills (.552) and recorded 21.5 points, both career highs. Senior Chris Pe?a added 11 kills (.421) and junior Paul Johnson added eight.
Senior Adam Shrader recorded a season-high of 19 digs for the Bruins and setter Dennis Gonzalez added 66 assists, three digs and two block assists.
Junior Mike Nelson and freshman Jake Wiens each recorded 15 kills for the Gauchos.
The Bruins' next home match will be Fri., Feb. 20 vs. the Alumni at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion. Admission is free.
