THIS WEEK -- No. 7 UCLA (5-2) travels to play at UC San Diego (2-4) on Friday night at 7 p.m. in a non-league match to be played in RIMAC Arena. This will be the home opener for UCSD and the match will be streamed over ESPN3. The two teams met earlier this year in the Wooden Center with UCLA prevailing in four sets (25-20, 25-13, 23-25, 25-19) on Jan. 5.
MATCH DAY: Friday, Jan. 25
No. 7 UCLA (5-2) at UC San Diego (2-4)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: http://www.ucsdtritons.com/liveStats/v2/volleyball/index.dbml?GAME_STAT_ID=3190961&db_oem_id=5800
Live Video: ESPN3 http://www.espn.com/watch/schedule?type=upcoming
UCLA dropped a three-setter to top-ranked Long Beach State last Saturday night in Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom (27-29, 22-25, 17-25). The Bruins had a couple of set point opportunities in the first frame, but could not come away with the win. The Beach hit an opponent season best .429 for the contest and out blocked the Bruins 11.5 to 2.0. UCLA had eight aces to three for Long Beach.
FIRST MEETING -- UCLA beat the Tritons in the first matchup of the season 25-20, 25-13, 23-25 25-19 in the Wooden Center. In that match, the Bruins outhit UCSD .365 to .066 and totaled more aces 11-8 and blocks 12.5-5.0. Dylan Missry led UCLA with 16 kills. Micah Ma'a and Daenan Gyimah each had three aces. Gyimah and Brandon Rattray registered five block assists apiece.
NCAA STATS -- UCLA began the week leading the nation in aces/set (2.23) and was ranked 7th nationally in kills/set (13.18); 6th in hitting percentage (.352); 9th in set assist average (12.09). Micah Ma'a rates 3rd nationally in aces (0.77 per set) and 8th in assists (10.36). Daenan Gyimah ranks 4th nationally in hitting % (.524). Brandon Rattray is 16th in kills per set (3.68).
WHO'S BACK -- The Bruins return a pair of 2018 first-team AVCA All-America selections in setter Micah Ma'a (56 aces last season, while guiding the Bruins to a .350 hitting percentage which ranked second in the NCAA last season) and middle blocker Daenan Gyimah (led the NCAA in hitting % at .528, placed third in NCAA in blocks/set at 1.22 and won the Ryan Millar Award as the nation's top middle attacker). Starting outside hitter Dylan Missry (second-team All-MPSF, who had multiple aces in 12 matches last season, with high of six vs. Long Beach State in NCAA championship match) also returns.
NEWCOMERS -- The Bruins roster features a talented group of freshmen and three transfers -- OH Austin Matautia (hit .349 with 1.9 kills/set mark and 24 aces in 25 matches last season for Hawai'i), OPP Brandon Rattray (hit .356 with 2.0 kills/set average in 12 matches last season for Hawai'i) and MB Matt Younggren (hit .327 with a 0.7 blocks/set average in 18 matches last season for UC Irvine). Libero Cole Pender was the first true freshman to see the court this season with an appearance against UC San Diego. Redshirt freshman Adam Parks saw his first career action at CSUN. Pender made his first career start at McKendree last week. Redshirt freshman J.R. Norris saw his first career action against Long Beach State.
MPSF - Each MPSF team has 12 conference matches on its schedule. The 2019 MPSF Championship Tournament begins with seeds two, three and four hosting a quarterfinal match on April 13. The conference semifinals are on April 18, on the home floor of the No. 1 seed. The top seed will host the lowest remaining available seed. The Championship match will take place on April 20, at the same site, with the winner earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament which will be hosted by Long Beach State on May 2 and 4.
BY THE NUMBERS
• UCLA is 3-1 at home this season after posting a 19-2 record in its home venues of Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom (13-2) and in the Wooden Center (6-0) last season ... It was the most home wins ever by the Bruins, one more than the 18 registered in 1987.
• UCLA dropped its first 2019 road test at CSUN in straight sets; the Bruins were 6-6 in true road matches in 2018.
• UCLA, is 1-2 this year vs. teams ranked in the AVCA poll at the time of the match, after going 14-7 last season.
• Junior middle blocker Daenan Gyimah has hit .500 or better in four matches this season.
• Senior setter Micah Ma'a has recorded multiple aces in five matches and at least one ace in six of the seven matches.
• Junior hitter Brandon Rattray has registered double digit kills in six of the seven matches this season.
• Junior hitter Austin Matautia has totaled at least one ace in five of the seven matches this season.
• Senior hitter Dylan Missry has at least one service ace in five of the seven matches this season.
• UCLA has won the ace battle in its five wins this season, but came up short (2-4) in the loss at CSUN in match three ... Last season, it was outaced in just five matches, loss to Long Beach State (7-9), loss at BYU (5-6), loss to Pepperdine (3-5), loss at BYU (1-3), win over Ohio St. (2-4).
• The Bruins, now 2-0 in 2019 when holding the opponent to .200 or below hitting %, held UCSD to a .066 hitting percentage and UCSB to a .183 mark earlier this season ... Last season, it limited 12 opponents under the .200 mark and posted a 12-0 mark in those matches.
• The Bruins rebounded from a season-low .200 htting percentage at CSUN to hit a season-best .475 in the win at McKendree ... Daenan Gyimah recorded a school record .917 % (11k-0-12att) in that win (old mark was .900 held by several players, the last was Allan Vince in 2005 v. UCI).
• UCLA has hit over .400 (.475 vs. UCSB and McKendree) twice in 2019 ...Last season, UCLA hit at least .400 in 12 matches, all wins ... CSUN (.417) and Long Beach (.429) each hit over .400 in defeating UCLA ... UCLA's .200 hitting % at CSUN was the lowest since it hit .191 in a loss at Long Beach State a year ago.
• The Bruins tied the school record with 15 aces in the match last season against Princeton; it equaled the school mark with seven aces in a set (second) in this year's home match against UC San Diego on Jan. 5.
• UCLA is 5-0 in 2019 (26-2 last season) when it hits for a higher % than the opponent - [lost to Long Beach State (.328 to .325) and loss at USC (.384 to .272)] ... UCLA hit .370 in home matches last season to .215 for opponents - In 4 home matches in '19, .356 vs. .218 for opponents.
• Head coach John Speraw secured victory milestones (100 wins at UCLA vs. Penn State; and 300 career wins vs. Ohio State) last season.
• True freshman Cole Pender (libero) saw his first career action against UC San Diego; R-Fr. Adam Parks took the court for the first time at CSUN; R-Fr. J.R. Norris saw his initial career action at home vs. Long Beach State.
• MB Daenan Gyimah led the NCAA in 2018 with a .528 hitting percentage last season and his 1.22 blocks/set average third in NCAA.
• MB Daenan Gyimah had three aces in first meeting of '19 vs. UCSD ... Last season, he led team with seven matches in which he recorded at least three aces ... Micah Ma'a totaled four aces against Long Beach after serving five aces at Lindenwood ... He had six such matches in 2018.
• Opp Brandon Rattray has 81 kills this season (3.68 kills/set) after totaling 40 a season ago at UH where he appeared in 12 matches, with one start (2.0 kills/set; 0.8 digs/ 0.55 blocks per set).
AVCA Coaches Poll - Jan. 21
1. Long Beach State (16) 240 6-0
2. Hawai'i 219 3-0
3. UC Irvine 202 6-1
4. BYU 199 4-0
5. Loyola-Chicago 161 5-1
6. Pepperdine 159 5-1
7. UCLA 149 5-2
8. Stanford 132 5-1
9. Lewis 108 5-2
10. UC Santa Barbara 84 5-3
11. CSUN 80 5-2
12. Ohio State 53 3-3
13. Ball State 43 3-4
14. George Mason 36 5-1
15. Purdue Fort Wayne 34 4-2
MATCH DAY: Friday, Jan. 25
No. 7 UCLA (5-2) at UC San Diego (2-4)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: http://www.ucsdtritons.com/liveStats/v2/volleyball/index.dbml?GAME_STAT_ID=3190961&db_oem_id=5800
Live Video: ESPN3 http://www.espn.com/watch/schedule?type=upcoming
UCLA dropped a three-setter to top-ranked Long Beach State last Saturday night in Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom (27-29, 22-25, 17-25). The Bruins had a couple of set point opportunities in the first frame, but could not come away with the win. The Beach hit an opponent season best .429 for the contest and out blocked the Bruins 11.5 to 2.0. UCLA had eight aces to three for Long Beach.
FIRST MEETING -- UCLA beat the Tritons in the first matchup of the season 25-20, 25-13, 23-25 25-19 in the Wooden Center. In that match, the Bruins outhit UCSD .365 to .066 and totaled more aces 11-8 and blocks 12.5-5.0. Dylan Missry led UCLA with 16 kills. Micah Ma'a and Daenan Gyimah each had three aces. Gyimah and Brandon Rattray registered five block assists apiece.
NCAA STATS -- UCLA began the week leading the nation in aces/set (2.23) and was ranked 7th nationally in kills/set (13.18); 6th in hitting percentage (.352); 9th in set assist average (12.09). Micah Ma'a rates 3rd nationally in aces (0.77 per set) and 8th in assists (10.36). Daenan Gyimah ranks 4th nationally in hitting % (.524). Brandon Rattray is 16th in kills per set (3.68).
WHO'S BACK -- The Bruins return a pair of 2018 first-team AVCA All-America selections in setter Micah Ma'a (56 aces last season, while guiding the Bruins to a .350 hitting percentage which ranked second in the NCAA last season) and middle blocker Daenan Gyimah (led the NCAA in hitting % at .528, placed third in NCAA in blocks/set at 1.22 and won the Ryan Millar Award as the nation's top middle attacker). Starting outside hitter Dylan Missry (second-team All-MPSF, who had multiple aces in 12 matches last season, with high of six vs. Long Beach State in NCAA championship match) also returns.
NEWCOMERS -- The Bruins roster features a talented group of freshmen and three transfers -- OH Austin Matautia (hit .349 with 1.9 kills/set mark and 24 aces in 25 matches last season for Hawai'i), OPP Brandon Rattray (hit .356 with 2.0 kills/set average in 12 matches last season for Hawai'i) and MB Matt Younggren (hit .327 with a 0.7 blocks/set average in 18 matches last season for UC Irvine). Libero Cole Pender was the first true freshman to see the court this season with an appearance against UC San Diego. Redshirt freshman Adam Parks saw his first career action at CSUN. Pender made his first career start at McKendree last week. Redshirt freshman J.R. Norris saw his first career action against Long Beach State.
MPSF - Each MPSF team has 12 conference matches on its schedule. The 2019 MPSF Championship Tournament begins with seeds two, three and four hosting a quarterfinal match on April 13. The conference semifinals are on April 18, on the home floor of the No. 1 seed. The top seed will host the lowest remaining available seed. The Championship match will take place on April 20, at the same site, with the winner earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament which will be hosted by Long Beach State on May 2 and 4.
BY THE NUMBERS
• UCLA is 3-1 at home this season after posting a 19-2 record in its home venues of Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom (13-2) and in the Wooden Center (6-0) last season ... It was the most home wins ever by the Bruins, one more than the 18 registered in 1987.
• UCLA dropped its first 2019 road test at CSUN in straight sets; the Bruins were 6-6 in true road matches in 2018.
• UCLA, is 1-2 this year vs. teams ranked in the AVCA poll at the time of the match, after going 14-7 last season.
• Junior middle blocker Daenan Gyimah has hit .500 or better in four matches this season.
• Senior setter Micah Ma'a has recorded multiple aces in five matches and at least one ace in six of the seven matches.
• Junior hitter Brandon Rattray has registered double digit kills in six of the seven matches this season.
• Junior hitter Austin Matautia has totaled at least one ace in five of the seven matches this season.
• Senior hitter Dylan Missry has at least one service ace in five of the seven matches this season.
• UCLA has won the ace battle in its five wins this season, but came up short (2-4) in the loss at CSUN in match three ... Last season, it was outaced in just five matches, loss to Long Beach State (7-9), loss at BYU (5-6), loss to Pepperdine (3-5), loss at BYU (1-3), win over Ohio St. (2-4).
• The Bruins, now 2-0 in 2019 when holding the opponent to .200 or below hitting %, held UCSD to a .066 hitting percentage and UCSB to a .183 mark earlier this season ... Last season, it limited 12 opponents under the .200 mark and posted a 12-0 mark in those matches.
• The Bruins rebounded from a season-low .200 htting percentage at CSUN to hit a season-best .475 in the win at McKendree ... Daenan Gyimah recorded a school record .917 % (11k-0-12att) in that win (old mark was .900 held by several players, the last was Allan Vince in 2005 v. UCI).
• UCLA has hit over .400 (.475 vs. UCSB and McKendree) twice in 2019 ...Last season, UCLA hit at least .400 in 12 matches, all wins ... CSUN (.417) and Long Beach (.429) each hit over .400 in defeating UCLA ... UCLA's .200 hitting % at CSUN was the lowest since it hit .191 in a loss at Long Beach State a year ago.
• The Bruins tied the school record with 15 aces in the match last season against Princeton; it equaled the school mark with seven aces in a set (second) in this year's home match against UC San Diego on Jan. 5.
• UCLA is 5-0 in 2019 (26-2 last season) when it hits for a higher % than the opponent - [lost to Long Beach State (.328 to .325) and loss at USC (.384 to .272)] ... UCLA hit .370 in home matches last season to .215 for opponents - In 4 home matches in '19, .356 vs. .218 for opponents.
• Head coach John Speraw secured victory milestones (100 wins at UCLA vs. Penn State; and 300 career wins vs. Ohio State) last season.
• True freshman Cole Pender (libero) saw his first career action against UC San Diego; R-Fr. Adam Parks took the court for the first time at CSUN; R-Fr. J.R. Norris saw his initial career action at home vs. Long Beach State.
• MB Daenan Gyimah led the NCAA in 2018 with a .528 hitting percentage last season and his 1.22 blocks/set average third in NCAA.
• MB Daenan Gyimah had three aces in first meeting of '19 vs. UCSD ... Last season, he led team with seven matches in which he recorded at least three aces ... Micah Ma'a totaled four aces against Long Beach after serving five aces at Lindenwood ... He had six such matches in 2018.
• Opp Brandon Rattray has 81 kills this season (3.68 kills/set) after totaling 40 a season ago at UH where he appeared in 12 matches, with one start (2.0 kills/set; 0.8 digs/ 0.55 blocks per set).
AVCA Coaches Poll - Jan. 21
1. Long Beach State (16) 240 6-0
2. Hawai'i 219 3-0
3. UC Irvine 202 6-1
4. BYU 199 4-0
5. Loyola-Chicago 161 5-1
6. Pepperdine 159 5-1
7. UCLA 149 5-2
8. Stanford 132 5-1
9. Lewis 108 5-2
10. UC Santa Barbara 84 5-3
11. CSUN 80 5-2
12. Ohio State 53 3-3
13. Ball State 43 3-4
14. George Mason 36 5-1
15. Purdue Fort Wayne 34 4-2