University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
5-1, 3-0
Cal Baptist
2-4, 1-2
MVB Wins Third Straight MPSF Match
January 18, 2017 | Men's Volleyball
UCLA's No.2-ranked men's volleyball team captured its third straight match to open the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) schedule in a 3-0 win over Cal Baptist on Wednesday night in Pauley Pavilion. Scores of the match were 25-21, 25-17, 25-22. UCLA, which was led by the 13-kill effort of junior outside hitter JT Hatch, improved its overall record to 5-1 on the season. The Bruins will now host USC on Friday night at 8 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA took home set one behind the six kills of freshman middle Daenan Gyimah. The Bruins opened with a 4-1 spurt but were caught by the Lancers at 7 and again at 10-all. The serve of sophomore Micah Ma'a led to a 3-0 run and handed UCLA a lead it would not surrender in a 25-21 win. The Bruins hit .619 for the set.
Six kills from Hatch helped UCLA secure set two. With the score tied at 8-all, a kill by senior middle Mitch Stahl, a block by Hatch and Stahl and a pair of aces from junior outside hitter Jake Arnitz lifted UCLA into a 12-8 lead. The Bruins then pulled away late in the set for a 25-17 decision. Stahl and Ma'a also had service aces in the set for the Bruins who hit .429.
In set three, senior Hagen Smith's kill broke a 5-all tie. Arnitz and Stahl followed with a block and the Bruin had the lead in the set for good. The Lancers closed to two points several times down the stretch, the last at 24-22. However, a big swing from Hatch ended the match at 25-22.
Gyimah finished with 10 kills (.750) and a couple of blocks. Smith added three kills, 15 set assists and a block. Senior Jackson Bantle topped the team with six digs. Ma'a totaled 20 set assists and a couple of aces. Arnitz had six kills and a couple of aces. UCLA outhit the Lancers .391 to .234 for the match and won the blocking battle 6.0 to 5.0.
