UCLA
USC
UCLA Blasts USC in Four Sets
February 23, 2015 | Men's Volleyball
Eleventh-ranked UCLA posted a huge win over third-ranked USC on Sunday night in Pauley Pavilion in an MPSF match played before over 3,000 fans. UCLA took the match in four sets (25-15, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22) to improve to 8-5 on the season and 4-5 in league play.
In set one, Hagen Smith and Mitch Stahl dominated on defense with some key blocks. UCLA broke away from a four-all tie with a couple of blocks and a kill by Christian Hessenauer for a 7-4 lead. After an ace from Hessenauer, the Bruins enjoyed a 16-10 edge. Smith, Stahl, and Jake Arnitz teammed up on a triple block that made it 20-14. A couple of kills from Arnitz moved the cushion to 24-14.The set finished with a kill from Stahl, making the final score 25-15. UCLA outblocked the Trojans 8.0 to 2.0 and outhit the visitors .300 to -.172 for the opening set.
The Bruins continued to put up a tough fight against the Trojans in the set number two. The set started out with a lot of back and forth action with ties at 4,5,6,7,8 and 9. A USC run made it 9-13, forcing a UCLA timeout. Jake Reeves subbed into the match and hit off the block for a 19-all tie helping to turn the momentum in the Bruins' favor. Reeves then put down a kill, after an overpass, for a 20-19 lead. The score was tied at 21 and again at 22. Reeves's ace made it 24-22 and an Arnitz kill teminated the set for UCLA at 25-23.
Set three gave the Bruins a bit of trouble. After the score was level at 8-all, USC moved out to an 11-14 edge. UCLA closed to 13-14 following a Stahl kill, but USC answered for a 17-24 lead. Behind the serve of Michael Fisher, UCLA held off five set points before falling, 22-25.
In set four, UCLA utilized the right arm of Arnitz to pull out to a 7-4 lead. USC caught the Bruins at 8-all. Hessenauer's serve helped turn the tide and his ace lifted the Bruins into an 10-8 advantage. From there, UCLA moved it out to an 18-11 margin. However, USC came back within two at 21-19. A Trent Kersten smash made it 22-19. Hessenauer's swing made it 23-20. Arnitz hit off hands for a 24-21 edge. The Bruins took home the win after the Trojans served into the net for a 25-22 difference.
Overall, it was a very impressive performance by the Buins tonight. Smith was huge at the net with a career-best 11 block assists. Hessenauer more than doubled his career-high tonight with 13 digs and added four aces. Arnitz hit .333 with 16 digs, three aces and three blocks. J.T. Hatch recorded eight digs and excellent serve reception.
The victory gave UCLA five more points in the SoCal BMW Crosstown Cup standings. The Bruins now lead USC, 65-20.
UCLA will go on to play at No. 4-ranked UC Irvine this upcoming Friday, February 27 and then travel on to meet UC San Diego on Saturday evening.
