UCLA
California Baptist
Bruins Put Down Lancers in Three
February 18, 2015 | Men's Volleyball
The No. 11 UCLA men's volleyball team defeated Cal Baptist in three straight sets in an MPSF match played on Tuesday night in Pauley Pavilion. Scores of the contest were 25-20, 25-17, 25-19. UCLA will now host USC on Sunday night at 7:30 in Pauley.
Middle blocker Trent Kersten helped the Bruins control the net with a career-high nine block assists. The Bruins sent down 32 block assists on the night and outblocked Cal Baptist 16.0 to 9.5 for the match. Setter Hagen Smith added a career-best seven blocks. Christian Hessenauer and Mitch Stahl totaled six block assists each. Kersten also led the Bruins with nine kills, while hitting .750.
In set one, UCLA went down 1-4 before evening the score at six-all on a Kersten kill. Stahl and Smith combined on a block for a 7-6 lead which the Bruins would not surrender. Kersten's strong serve keyed a run which ended with UCLA up 11-7. The Lancers closed to within 22-19, but UCLA prevailed 25-20.
UCLA moved out to a 6-3 lead in set two before CBU leveled the score at 8-all. The set was tied at 10, 11 and 13. A Kersten kill made it 14-13 and UCLA held on from there. Michael Fisher's serve and Kersten's play at the net helped move the Bruins to a 19-13 edge. A block by Fisher ended the set at 25-17.
In set three, UCLA established a 7-4 lead. CBU came back to get within one at 10-9. A Smith kill and then a block made it 14-10. Hessenauer's spike left the Bruins in control by a margin of 21-15. After a couple of kills from Jake Arnitz, UCLA owned a 24-18 lead. A kill by Kersten ended the match at 25-19.
UCLA held Cal Baptist to a -.011 hitting percentage for the match. Stahl had two aces and five kills to go along with his six blocks. Arnitz finished with seven kills, an ace, six digs and three blocks.
The Bruins will take a 7-5, 3-5 record into a Sunday night match against No. 3-ranked USC at 7:30 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion. For ticket information, please call 310-UCLA-WIN or go through the website at uclabruins.com
