By Jill Oberly
Staff Writer
Forget about March Madness for a minute. Chances are your team is out already.
Instead let’s focus on the men’s volleyball team, because that is where the race for the top spot is the most exciting.
This weekend the No. 2-ranked Waves go head to head with the No. 1-ranked UCLA Bruins for what could quite possibly be the most anticipated match of the season.
The match will mark the third time the teams will have met in the 2002 campaign, with the teams splitting the two decisions thus far.
Early in the season, the Waves downed UCLA in three games at the Wyndham Garden Classic — a tournament that featured Long Beach State, Irvine, UCLA and Pepperdine.
The Waves and the Bruins each put their six-game winning streaks on the line when they faced off in bear country at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 7. The Waves suffered a heartbreaking five-game loss that came down to the wire.
This time each team is looking for its ninth consecutive win and the Waves hope their strong play at home continues. The Waves are 11-1 in play at Firestone Fieldhouse.
“They’re number one and we’re number two,” head coach Marv Dunphy said. “It will be great to take on the top-ranked team at home. But win or lose, we have five matches left that are all of equal importance. Our opponents are good and (the matches) are all going to be great.”
This weekend’s game may have a hard time living up to last week’s play.
Despite an eight-match stay on the mainland, Hawaii looked like they just rolled in off the beach. The team was still wearing its boardshorts, which were the bottom of the Rainbows’ uniforms.
The Waves proceeded to drown the Rainbows with dominating play two nights in a row.
The key for the Waves Friday night was a balanced offensive attack. The Waves took the match, 30-26, 30-28, 26-30, 30-26. Freshman outside hitter Sean Rooney lead the attack, collecting a team-high 22 kills.
The Waves had five players tally double figure kill totals.
Sophomore outside hitter Fred Winters added 18 kills and four blocks and senior outside hitter Lance Walker contributed 13 kills and five blocks.
Junior Brad Keenan and senior Chris Van Reusen added a combined 22 kills and 10 blocks.
Saturday night the Waves once again downed the Rainbows, 30-22, 30-23, 30-32, 30-25.
Leading the way this time was Walker with 21 kills followed close behind by Rooney with 20.
As a team, the Waves posted a hitting percentage of .462 compared with the .286 team attack mark by Hawaii.
The Waves made fewer hitting errors on Saturday night, which allowed for more efficient play. “We served a lot better Saturday,” Dunphy said. “On Friday we overhit some serves that allowed them to stay a lot closer to us.”
After a week-long break, the Waves return to action this Saturday, against the Bruins at 7 p.m.
VOLLLEYBALL TOP FIVE:
Weekend Highlights
1. Senior setter Beau Daniels’ diving dig in the midst of a long rally to save the ball and help give Pepperdine the point to win game one in Saturday’s match.
2. Senior outside hitter Lance Walker’s enthusiastic display of authority after every kill on his way to collecting a team-best total of 21 in Saturday night’s match.
3. Freshmen outside hitter Sean Rooney answering back to a huge kill by Hawaii’s No. 15 with one of his own bringing the fans to their feet and proving that no one messes with the Waves in their own house.
4. The 1,475 fans, a season high for a men’s volleyball game, packed into Firestone Fieldhouse. The highlight of the game was the crowd for Dunphy. “The crowd was great,” Dunphy said. “ Our students were really good. It made for a playoff-type atmosphere.”
5. After the conclusion of Saturday night’s match, watching as all members of the Waves gathered to sign autographs for a group of 7 to 10 year olds.
March 28, 2002