UCLA
Cal State Northridge
Bruins Rally for Five-Game Victory against Matadors
February 19, 2010 | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 19, 2010
Sixth-ranked UCLA upset No.1 Cal State Northridge for the second time in a month, edging the Matadors in a five-game, come-from-behind victory Friday at Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins won 27-30, 28-30, 30-28, 30-14, 15-12 in two hours and 15 minutes in front of 923 campers, high school and club team players and excited fans. The Bruins have now won six of their last eight matches (after starting 1-4) and raised their overall record to 9-6, 8-4 in MPSF play. Cal State Northridge, which began the week at No.1, lost for the second time in three days on the road and dropped to 11-4, 8-4.
The win also moved the Bruins into a second place tie in the MPSF race.
Things looked abysmal for the Bruins in the first two games. They were hitting .096 and their senior leader, Garrett Muagututia, was floundering around with just four kills (.053) in 19 attempts. Still, they were out-blocking the visitors 12.0-7.0 and had served five aces.
To start Game 3, head coach Al Scates subbed in sophomore setter Kyle Caldwell and things began to improve. The Matadors had figured out senior setter Kevin Ker, who was struggling to connect with his hitters. The score flip-flopped until the Bruins broke a 21-21 tie with a block of CSUN's Theo Edwards by Muagututia and sophomore Thomas Amberg. A CSUN service error, a kill by the Bruins' Jeremy Casebeer and an attack error by the visitors gave the Bruins a 25-22 lead when the Matadors called their last timeout. The Bruins got the next point to move ahead by four, but CSUN tied the set at 27-27 and the Bruins called timeout. Out of the timeout, the teams traded points for a 28-28 tie, and the Bruins won it on Jack Polales' kill and a CSUN attack error.
The Matadors tanked in Game 4, burning a timeout at 1-5 and their last one at 2-10. From there, the Bruins cruised to a 30-14 victory, hitting .643 and enjoying a 92% sideout ratio. Polales recorded six kills and sophomore Nick Vogel added four.
Despite giving up the first two points of the final game, Muagututia rallied and carried the Bruins to victory. He smashed four kills and Polales added three. Caldwell, who ended the night with a .525 assists ratio, delivered the final point after the Bruins were forced to stall a late, three-point CSUN run with a timeout.
Muagututia recorded his 18th career double-double, registering 13 kills and 13 digs. Polales led all players with 20 kills and 24 points. Amberg also recorded a double-double of 10 kills (.400) and 11 total blocks, while Vogel added 14 kills (.458) and 18.5 points.
Edwards led the Matadors with 14 kills, and senior Kevin McKniff enjoyed a career night, hitting .929 on 13 kills in 14 swings.
Next week, the Bruins host UC San Diego (Feb. 24) and Long Beach State (Feb. 26). Both matches begin at 7 p.m.
