UCLA
Pacific
Third-Ranked UCLA Topples Pacific in Four Sets
April 13, 2012 | Men's Volleyball
April 13, 2012
Stockton, Calif. - Senior Thomas Amberg had 14 kills and 17 points while Gonzalo Quiroga added 11 kills and 12.5 points as the third-ranked UCLA men's volleyball team defeated the Pacific Tigers in four sets on Friday night.
The Bruins improved to 22-6 overall and 16-5 in the conference. They are tied for third place with UC Irvine and Stanford at 16-5 and sit just one game behind leaders USC for the MPSF lead. The Trojans have already clinched a share of the MPSF title and all seedings for next week's MPSF Quarterfinal round will be determined from the results of tomorrow's matches. Pacific fell to 7-20 overall and 4-17 in the MPSF. Set scores were 25-22, 21-25, 25-17 and 25-19.
UCLA jumped out to an early lead in the first set, gaining a 9-6 advantage over the Tigers after Jeremy Casebeer recorded a kill and the Bruins caused a Pacific attacking error. The Tigers hung around though and stayed within a point or two for much of the set. Then at 16-15 UCLA, the Bruins retook their three point advantage after back-to-back kills from Kyle Caldwell and Casebeer to make it 18-15. Again though the Tigers came back and this time were able to tie the set at 21-21. Yet UCLA was up to the challenge, and took the next three points after Casebeer hammered home a kill, served an ace and Amberg and Nick Vogel combined for a block to make it 24-21 Bruins. UCLA would go on to close out the set from there by the score of 25-22.
The Bruins continued their momentum into the second set as they again jumped out to a quick lead, this time going up by the score of 9-4. However, Pacific fought back and was able to take the lead at 13-12. After the two sides traded points for awhile, the Tigers went ahead by three after an Amberg service error and a Sean Daley ace made it 18-15 Pacific. The Bruins were unable to get any closer than two points for the rest of the set and the Tigers leveled the match at one set apiece after taking set two 25-21.
UCLA came out focused in set three and took an early 12-8 lead to start the set. There would be no Pacific comeback this time, as the Bruins kept their four point lead for most of the set until the score reached 21-17. From there, senior Ryal Jagd came in and won four straight points on his serve, as Pacific committed two errors and Amberg and Quiroga recorded two kills as UCLA cruised to a 25-17 third set win.
Set four played out much like set three, as the Bruins began the set by taking an 11-7 lead over the Tigers. Once again the two teams traded points and the Bruins did a good job of limiting Pacific's chances, as they did not allow the Tigers to get any closer than three points after taking their four point lead. With the Bruins holding a 22-19 advantage, they were able to close out the set as Weston Dunlap scored a kill, Quiroga served an ace and Caldwell recorded a kill to win set four by the score of 25-19 and seal the match in four sets.
Amberg led the Bruins with 14 kills and six block assists to give him 17 points on the night. He also hit a blistering .700 in the match on 20 attempts. Quiroga and Dunlap were right behind him with 12.5 and 12 points respectively. Quiroga had 11 kills to go with his team-high 10 digs while Dunlap had 10 kills and three total blocks. Kyle Caldwell had 43 set assists on the night and set UCLA to a .265 hitting percentage.
Overall, UCLA held the Tigers to just a .209 hitting percentage. Taylor Hughes led Pacific with 16 kills in the match.
The Bruins will square off against Stanford in the regular season finale tomorrow night in a match that will have big implications in the MPSF Tournament seedings. The match will begin at 7 pm at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, Calif. and fans at home can follow along on Gametracker.
