UCLA
USC (Kilgour Cup at Pauley Pavilion)
Bruins Rally Past Trojans in Five Games
March 18, 2006 | Men's Volleyball
March 18, 2006
In classic rivalry fashion, UCLA rallied from a two-game deficit Friday to defeat USC in five games, capturing the Kilgour Cup for the 23rd time and snapping a three-match skid.
The Bruins won 30-32, 27-30, 30-27, 30-25, 15-7 in front of 823 fans in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA, which had lost three straight matches, raised its record to 13-12 overall, 6-10 in MPSF play. USC fell to 10-14, 6-12. The Bruins also defeated the Trojans for the 83rd time in the series and the 27th time in the last 29 matches. USC has not swept the series since 1990 and has not won in Pauley Pavilion since 2000. The victory also was UCLA's 11th against USC in the Kilgour Cup.
This victory may prove to be an important moment in a season gone awry for a UCLA team that has had trouble holding late leads and making exceptional plays. The Bruins dropped Game 1 despite leading 29-27 and climbing back from a 25-20 deficit. In Game 2 they fell behind seven points at 14-7, rallied to within a point at 28-27, then fizzled as USC called timeout, scored point No. 29 on a UCLA touch and blocked UCLA's Steve Klosterman for the final point to go ahead two games to none.
In Game 3, the Bruins fell behind 3-0, tied it at 6-6 and did not let the game get away. They broke a 22-22 tie, moved ahead 24-22 on kills by junior Paul George and a USC hitting error. The teams traded points until Klosterman, George and Nick Scheftic combined to block USC's Juan Figueroa for a 27-24 lead. Another USC attack error gave the Bruins a 28-24 lead and they held on with a three-point margin.
In Game 4 the Bruins broke a 21-21 tie by outscoring USC 9-4 down the stretch. Another UCLA triple block gave the Bruins a 26-22 lead before USC burned its final timeout. A kill by senior Damien Scott and a USC hitting error gave the Bruins a five-point margin of victory and evened the game score.
In Game 5 UCLA freshman setter Matt Wade scored three points, two on kills and one with an ace to spark the Bruins' victory. Wade's first kill gave the Bruins a 6-3 and forced USC to call its first timeout before the changeover at the eighth point. Wade's second kill gave the Bruins a 9-4 lead, and after Figueroa was long on a kill attempt, the Trojans used their last timeout. The teams traded points until Wade came to the service line with UCLA leading 11-6. All night long the freshman setter had served soft floaters inside the 10-meter line. His first serve was similar and produced a point when USC's C.J. Schellenberg hit long for a 12-6 UCLA lead. His next serve was a quick line drive that caught USC's Luke Morris completely off-guard--an ace for a 13-7 advantage. The Bruins blocked USC's next attempt for 14-7, gave up a point on a USC block, and won the match on Damein Scott's 14th kill.
The loss negated an impressive serving performance by USC. In 121 service attempts, the Trojans committed just 10 errors and served four aces. By contrast, UCLA committed 21 service errors in 132 attempts with five aces. USC also out-blocked UCLA, 17.5-15.0, but hit just .177, including .105 in the last three games. In Game 5 alone, they recorded just three kills in 15 attempts with six errors. The Bruins, conversely, hit .333 in the final three games.
Klosterman led both squads with 23 kills and added a career-high of nine total blocks. He also tied a career-high with 28.5 points. George added 16 kills (.400) and a match-high 12 digs. Scott added 14 kills (.348) and nine digs off the bench.
Figueroa led USC with 19 kills, but was shut down with a percentage of .074. Grangeiro added 16 kills and was held to a hitting percentage of .216.
The Bruins will host No.15 George Mason Sat., Mar. 18 at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.
