April 4, 2013
Sixth-ranked Cal Baptist hit .340 for the match and snapped UCLA's six-match winning streak with a four-set decision on Thursday night in an MPSF Conference match played in Pauley Pavilion. Scores of the match were 21-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20. UCLA now owns a 17-10 record overall and a 13-8 mark in conference action. CBU improved to 16-12 overall and 12-10 in MPSF play.
UCLA captured set one, breaking a 21-all tie, the 13th tie point of the set, on a Robart Page kill and then proceeded to score the last four points for a 25-21 win.
The Bruins jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in set two, thanks to some fine play from Gonzalo Quiroga who had a kill and two aces in the sequence. CBU roared back to knot the set at 6-each. The visitors then grabbed a 8-7 lead on a Bruin service error and were never headed. Coach John Speraw signaled for timeouts down 9-13 and 11-16, but could not slow the Lancers, who went on to record a 25-18 win.
UCLA fell into a 1-5 hole to start set three. A block from Trent Kersten narrowed the deficit to 6-4 and a kill from Page pulled the Bruins to within two again, at 7-5. However, CBU scored the next three points to move out to a 10-5 edge and never led by less than three points the balance of the set, while posting a 25-19 win.
The Bruins were forced to come-from-behind once again in set four, quickly going down 3-0. A block by Kersten and Dane Worley tied the set at 6-all. Another kill by Kersten evened the set at eights, but the Bruins could not fight their way into the lead. CBU gradually moved out to a 17-13 gap and UCLA never drew closer than four in dropping the set 25-20.
The Bruins were outhit in the match .340 to .214. Page topped the Bruins with 14 kills, hitting .222. Worley and Kersten, who totaled four blocks, each added 10 kills. Quiroga finished with six kills and three aces. Evan Mottram had seven digs. Connor Bannan recorded 35 set assists.
The Bruins will look to rebound on Saturday night in Pauley Pavilion against top-ranked BYU. First serve is at 7 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door.