Wednesday, January 2
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM
UCLA
1-0
3
vs
0
Princeton
0-2
1
2
3
F
Princeton
17
24
18
0
UCLA
25
26
25
3
Setter Micah Ma'a
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
No. 2 MVB Opens Season With Win
January 02, 2019 | Men's Volleyball
The No. 2-ranked UCLA men's volleyball team posted a straight set win over Princeton on Wednesday night in Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom to open the 2019 season. Scores of the match were 25-17, 26-24 and 25-18. The Bruins were led by junior transfer Brandon Rattray who put down 15 kills, hit .348 and added a team-best nine digs.
In set one, UCLA blew out to a 9-3 lead thanks to two kills from Rattray, and aces by Matt Younggren and Daenan Gyimah. Princeton closed to 11-8 and then to 13-11, but UCLA answered back and took a 18-13 lead following another ace from Gyimah. The Bruins pulled away at the end and the fifth ace of the set, this one by Austin Matautia, finished off the set at 25-17. Rattray recorded seven of the Bruins' 13 kills in the set and UCLA hit .588 as a team.
Princeton came out of the gate strong in set two, breaking a 2-all tie with four straight points and taking a 2-6 lead. UCLA closed to 5-8 after a third ace from Gyimah and cut the margin to two after a kill by Rattray at 9-11. The Bruin rally continued and the home team moved in front 17-16 on a Dylan Missry swing. The score was then even at points 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. The Tigers put two together to take a 21-23 advantage. After a Bruin timeout, a Gyimah kill and a Princeton hitting error made the score 23-all. The Tigers captured the next point only to see Matautia tie the score at 24 with a kill. The Bruins tallied the next two for a 26-24 win, with set point coming on a Missry / Gyimah block. Rattray added another seven kills in the set, but the Bruin team managed to hit only .226 for the set.
In set three, UCLA went out to an early 7-4 lead. Princeton closed to 9-8, but could not take the lead. The Bruins then rattled off six of the next seven points to enjoy a 15-9 margin and take control of the set. Gyimah added a career-best fourth ace to make it 18-11 and UCLA went on to bring home a 25-18 win while hitting .467 for the set.
Rattray, who transferred from Hawai'i, finished his first match as a Bruin with a career-best 15 kills and nine digs. Missry added seven kills, while hitting .545. Micah Ma'a had four kills, a couple of aces and five digs while setting the Bruins to a .381 hitting percentage. Princeton hit .238 for the match, but out blocked the Bruins 7.0 to 3.5. UCLA won the service battle with nine aces to two for the TIgers.
UCLA will return to action on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the Wooden Center in another non-league match against UC San Diego.
In set one, UCLA blew out to a 9-3 lead thanks to two kills from Rattray, and aces by Matt Younggren and Daenan Gyimah. Princeton closed to 11-8 and then to 13-11, but UCLA answered back and took a 18-13 lead following another ace from Gyimah. The Bruins pulled away at the end and the fifth ace of the set, this one by Austin Matautia, finished off the set at 25-17. Rattray recorded seven of the Bruins' 13 kills in the set and UCLA hit .588 as a team.
Princeton came out of the gate strong in set two, breaking a 2-all tie with four straight points and taking a 2-6 lead. UCLA closed to 5-8 after a third ace from Gyimah and cut the margin to two after a kill by Rattray at 9-11. The Bruin rally continued and the home team moved in front 17-16 on a Dylan Missry swing. The score was then even at points 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. The Tigers put two together to take a 21-23 advantage. After a Bruin timeout, a Gyimah kill and a Princeton hitting error made the score 23-all. The Tigers captured the next point only to see Matautia tie the score at 24 with a kill. The Bruins tallied the next two for a 26-24 win, with set point coming on a Missry / Gyimah block. Rattray added another seven kills in the set, but the Bruin team managed to hit only .226 for the set.
In set three, UCLA went out to an early 7-4 lead. Princeton closed to 9-8, but could not take the lead. The Bruins then rattled off six of the next seven points to enjoy a 15-9 margin and take control of the set. Gyimah added a career-best fourth ace to make it 18-11 and UCLA went on to bring home a 25-18 win while hitting .467 for the set.
Rattray, who transferred from Hawai'i, finished his first match as a Bruin with a career-best 15 kills and nine digs. Missry added seven kills, while hitting .545. Micah Ma'a had four kills, a couple of aces and five digs while setting the Bruins to a .381 hitting percentage. Princeton hit .238 for the match, but out blocked the Bruins 7.0 to 3.5. UCLA won the service battle with nine aces to two for the TIgers.
UCLA will return to action on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the Wooden Center in another non-league match against UC San Diego.
Team Stats
PRIN
UCLA
Kills
26
38
Errors
11
14
Attempts
63
63
Hitting %
.238
.381
Points
35.0
50.5
Assists
22
37
Aces
2
9
Blocks
7.0
3.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
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