UCLA
UC Irvine
UC Irvine Shocks Bruins, 3-2, in Pauley
June 21, 1999 | Men's Volleyball
February 25, 1999
LOS ANGELES - Unranked UC Irvine shocked No. 2 UCLA, 3-2, Wednesday in men's volleyball before 523 in Pauley Pavilion.
The Anteaters (6-8, 4-6) won 15-12, 9-15, 4-15, 15-13, 15-13 for the first time in 36 matches against the Bruins (11-3, 9-2), who must now sweep top-ranked BYU on the road to put themselves in position to defend their division title. UCI victory snapped the Bruins eight-match winning streak.
Solid blocking, timely serving and a little luck kept UCI in the match. With the Bruins Adam Naeve nursing an ankle injury, three service aces by the Anteaters enabled them to climb back from a 7-12 deficit in Game 4 to tie the game at 12-12. Blocks by Erick Heienihi and Brendon Watumull won it.
In Game 5, UCI rallied from a 7-10 deficit to go ahead 11-10 on three kills by Mike Rupp, who led all players with 30. The two teams played see-saw until Rupp served an ace at 14-13 to win it.
Donnie Rafter added 28 kills and a match-high 15 digs for UCI.
The Bruins were led by Danny Farmers 25 kills, 11 digs and five blocks. Fred Robins added 22 kills and 11 digs.
The Bruins travel to BYU this weekend for a pair of crucial MPSF matches.
