No. 7 UCLA Hosts Ninth-Ranked UC Santa Barbara in MPSF First Round
April 17, 2006
The seventh-ranked UCLA men's volleyball team completed its regular season last week with an eight-match winning streak and a first round playoff date against No.9 UC Santa Barbara.
The Bruins (20-12, 12-10) swept UC Santa Barbara 3-0 on Apr. 12 and won on the road 3-1 against Cal State Northridge on Apr. 14.
The victories secured seventh place for UCLA in the MPSF standings and a first round playoff berth at home against UCSB (13-15, 9-13) on Wed., Apr. 19. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion. The match will be broadcast live on www.uclabruins.com. Tickets are priced at $5 for students with identification and $10 for adults. For information call 310-UCLA-WIN.
Although UCSB will be without the services of All-American opposite Evan Patak, the Gauchos still present a tough challenge for UCLA. In Game 3 of their sweep on Apr. 12, the Bruins won 34-32.
"In the first two games of that match (on Apr. 12), they played a different lineup because it was Senior Night," said UCLA Head Coach Al Scates. "In Game 3 they played their starters and played us very well."
In that final game, UCSB held an early three-point lead and had a serve to win the game at 29-28. A kill by UCLA senior David Russell tied the score and after the two teams were tied at 32-32, consecutive hitting errors by the Gauchos gave the Bruins the game and the match.
That victory was UCLA's seventh straight and marked the ninth straight start by freshman setter Matt Wade, who has guided the Bruins to a hitting percentage of .342 in the last 10 matches. During the eight-match streak, the Bruins are hitting .362.
"We're hitting for big numbers for the first time all year during this streak," said Scates, whose team will be making its 43rd post-season appearance. "Matt will remain the starter. Dennis (Gonzalez) showed us he was ready (vs. CS Northridge, Apr. 14)."
Against CS Northridge last Friday, Gonzalez, a senior, finished Game 3 as the Bruins won 30-28 and started Game 4 in a 30-20 victory. For the match, Gonzalez and Wade each recorded 31 assists; Wade had two points on two kills early in the match.
The Bruins have assured Scates of his 44th straight winning season. This milestone is believed to be the longest streak in NCAA history by a coach at one school. Additionally, in 39 of 44 seasons, Scates has guided UCLA to 20 or more victories.