UCLA
California Baptist
Bruins Defeat Lancers in Four
January 28, 2009 | Men's Volleyball
Jan. 28, 2009
Eighth-ranked UCLA defeated NAIA champion Cal Baptist in four games Wednesday night in a non-conference match for both teams in Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins won 32-34, 30-17, 30-23, 30-25 in two hours and 21 minutes before a crowd of 371. The victory raised UCLA's record to 4-4 overall. Cal Baptist fell to 3-4. The match marked the first time in four years the two teams did not play five games.
Senior Sean O'Malley and freshman Kyle Caldwell combined for 42 kills and 45.5 points to carry the UCLA attack which hit .409 on the night. Both players slammed 21 kills, which was a season-high for O'Malley and a career-high for Caldwell. Caldwell also recorded 14 digs, another career-high, which gave him his second straight double-double. Senior setter Matt Wade came off the bench and recorded 47 set assists and six total blocks. Freshman Thomas Amberg added seven kills (.462) and six total blocks.
Despite being aced nine times -- six times by CBU's Adiel Tiedjop -- the Bruins managed to keep the Lancers in check after the first game. Following Game 1, they recorded 12.5 of their 14.5 total blocks and hit better than .450 for the rest of the match. In addition, they served seven aces and outhit the Lancers 64 kills to 52.
UCLA will travel to UC Irvine Fri., Jan. 30 for a key MPSF match at 7 p.m. in the Bren Center. Next week, the Bruins host Stanford (Feb. 5) and Pacific (Feb. 6).
