Micah Ma'a, Grant Maleski and Sam Kobrine at the net.
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
MVB Travels to Midwest For Two
January 29, 2019 | Men's Volleyball
THIS WEEK - No. 5 UCLA (6-2) travels to play at No. 7 Loyola-Chicago (6-2) on Thursday night at 5 p.m. PT in and No. 10 Lewis (6-3) on Saturday night at 5 p.m. PT in a pair of matches against Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) opponents. It begins a stretch of six matches against ranked opposition for the Bruins who will kickoff Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play next week by hosting No. 8 Stanford on Thursday and No. 3 BYU on Saturday.
Loyola, which won the NCAA Championship in 2014 (by d. Stanford) and 2015 (by d. Lewis), is ranked fifth in the nation in hitting percentage (.350) and second in kills/set (14.07) this season. Lewis, which lost to Loyola in five sets in the 2015 NCAA championship match, is ranked second nationally in blocks/set at 2.78 and seventh in aces/set (1.82).
Brandon Rattray pounded a season-high 21 kills (11 in fourth set) and three aces in helping the Bruins defeat UC San Diego (3-1) on the road last week. UCLA hit .449 as a team in the win. Austin Matautia registered a season-best 11 kills, while hitting .333. Daenan Gyimah (.500) added nine kills and four blocks with Dylan Missry (.444) totaling eight kills and a ace.
MATCH DAY: Thursday, Jan. 31
No. 5 UCLA (6-2) at No. 7 Loyola-Chicago (6-2)
Time: 5:00 p.m. PT
TV: NBC Sports Chicago (Direct TV ch. 665)
Live Stats: ?http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=233166
Live Video: http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3471206/ucla-vs-loyolachicago
MATCH DAY: Saturday, Feb. 2
No. 5 UCLA (6-2) at No. 10 Lewis (6-3)
Time: 5:00 p.m. PT
Live Video: ?http://www.glvcsn.com/lewis
Live Stats:http://www.lewisflyers.com/sidearmstats/mvball/summary
LAST MEETING -- The Bruins opened the 2017 season at Loyola-Chicago and came away with a 25-19, 25-18, 25-16 win. UCLA last faced Lewis in the middle of the 2017 campaign and earned a 3-1 home win.
NCAA STATS -- UCLA began the week leading the nation in aces/set (2.23) and was ranked 3rd in hitting percentage (.366); 6th nationally in kills/set (13.15); 8th in set assist average (12.15). Micah Ma'a rates 3rd nationally in aces (0.77 per set) and 5th in assists (10.58). Daenan Gyimah ranks 3rd nationally in hitting % (.521). Brandon Rattray is 12th in kills per set (3.92).
BY THE NUMBERS
• UCLA picked up a road win last week at UC San Diego and is now 3-1 on the season (lost at CSUN) away from home; the Bruins were 6-6 in true road matches in 2018.
• 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.
• Over the past three-plus seasons, UCLA is 33-5 in Pauley (2016: 10-1, 2017: 8-1, 2018: 13-2, 2019: 2-1) ... The last team not named Long Beach State (which also won in Pauley in February 2018 and May 2018) to defeat UCLA in Pauley was CSUN in February of 2017 (note: the Bruins did lose three home matches in the Wooden Center after the CSUN loss in that 2017 season).
• 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 five matches this season.
• Daenan Gyimah led the NCAA in 2018 with a .528 hitting percentage last season and his 1.22 blocks/set average third in NCAA.
• 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 has totaled at least three aces in four matches this season at UCSD-3, UCSD-3, Long Beach-4 and Lindenwood-5.
• Senior setter Micah Ma'a, who is third in the nation with a 0.77 ace average this season, has 14 aces in the last four matches and has recorded multiple aces in six matches with at least one in seven of the eight matches this year ... Micah Ma'a ranks second on the all-time school list for aces, is fourth on the all-time school list for set assists and seventh on digs list.
• Junior hitter Brandon Rattray has registered double digit kills in seven of the eight matches this season ... Rattray has 102 kills this season (3.92 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).
• Junior hitter Austin Matautia had season-best 11 kills at UCSD and has totaled at least one ace in five of the eight matches this season ... Matautia played in 25 matches, with nine starts, at Hawai'i last season (1.9 kills per set/ 24 aces / 0.3 blocks per set).
• Senior hitter Dylan Missry has at least one service ace in six of the eight matches this season ... Missry is tied for seventh (also JT Hatch) on the all-time school list for career aces with 82 (rally scoring era of 2001 to the present).
• MB Grant Maleski has moved inside this season to middle blocker after seeing action in eight matches last season at OH, with two starts.
• 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; R-Jr. Jonah Kay saw his first action at UCSD.
• UCLA has won the ace battle in its six wins this season; it has come up short once this season (2-4) in the loss at CSUN ... Last season, it was outaced in just five matches, loss to Long Beach St (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 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; .449 at UCSD) three times (3-0) 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.
• UCLA is 6-0 in 2019 (26-2 last season) when it hits for a higher % than the opponent ... 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.
AVCA Coaches Poll - Jan. 28
1. Long Beach State (16) 240 7-0
2. Hawai'i 220 3-0
3. BYU 201 4-0
4. UC Irvine 197 8-2
5. UCLA 154 6-2
6. Pepperdine 152 5-2
7. Loyola-Chicago 149 6-2
8. Stanford 142 7-1
9. UC Santa Barbara 123 7-3
10. Lewis 100 6-3
11. Ball State 70 4-4
12. CSUN 66 5-4
13. George Mason 49 6-1
14. Ohio State 35 3-4
15. USC 7 5-3
Recv. Votes - Barton, Purdue Fort Wayne, Penn St.
Loyola, which won the NCAA Championship in 2014 (by d. Stanford) and 2015 (by d. Lewis), is ranked fifth in the nation in hitting percentage (.350) and second in kills/set (14.07) this season. Lewis, which lost to Loyola in five sets in the 2015 NCAA championship match, is ranked second nationally in blocks/set at 2.78 and seventh in aces/set (1.82).
Brandon Rattray pounded a season-high 21 kills (11 in fourth set) and three aces in helping the Bruins defeat UC San Diego (3-1) on the road last week. UCLA hit .449 as a team in the win. Austin Matautia registered a season-best 11 kills, while hitting .333. Daenan Gyimah (.500) added nine kills and four blocks with Dylan Missry (.444) totaling eight kills and a ace.
MATCH DAY: Thursday, Jan. 31
No. 5 UCLA (6-2) at No. 7 Loyola-Chicago (6-2)
Time: 5:00 p.m. PT
TV: NBC Sports Chicago (Direct TV ch. 665)
Live Stats: ?http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=233166
Live Video: http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3471206/ucla-vs-loyolachicago
MATCH DAY: Saturday, Feb. 2
No. 5 UCLA (6-2) at No. 10 Lewis (6-3)
Time: 5:00 p.m. PT
Live Video: ?http://www.glvcsn.com/lewis
Live Stats:http://www.lewisflyers.com/sidearmstats/mvball/summary
LAST MEETING -- The Bruins opened the 2017 season at Loyola-Chicago and came away with a 25-19, 25-18, 25-16 win. UCLA last faced Lewis in the middle of the 2017 campaign and earned a 3-1 home win.
NCAA STATS -- UCLA began the week leading the nation in aces/set (2.23) and was ranked 3rd in hitting percentage (.366); 6th nationally in kills/set (13.15); 8th in set assist average (12.15). Micah Ma'a rates 3rd nationally in aces (0.77 per set) and 5th in assists (10.58). Daenan Gyimah ranks 3rd nationally in hitting % (.521). Brandon Rattray is 12th in kills per set (3.92).
BY THE NUMBERS
• UCLA picked up a road win last week at UC San Diego and is now 3-1 on the season (lost at CSUN) away from home; the Bruins were 6-6 in true road matches in 2018.
• 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.
• Over the past three-plus seasons, UCLA is 33-5 in Pauley (2016: 10-1, 2017: 8-1, 2018: 13-2, 2019: 2-1) ... The last team not named Long Beach State (which also won in Pauley in February 2018 and May 2018) to defeat UCLA in Pauley was CSUN in February of 2017 (note: the Bruins did lose three home matches in the Wooden Center after the CSUN loss in that 2017 season).
• 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 five matches this season.
• Daenan Gyimah led the NCAA in 2018 with a .528 hitting percentage last season and his 1.22 blocks/set average third in NCAA.
• 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 has totaled at least three aces in four matches this season at UCSD-3, UCSD-3, Long Beach-4 and Lindenwood-5.
• Senior setter Micah Ma'a, who is third in the nation with a 0.77 ace average this season, has 14 aces in the last four matches and has recorded multiple aces in six matches with at least one in seven of the eight matches this year ... Micah Ma'a ranks second on the all-time school list for aces, is fourth on the all-time school list for set assists and seventh on digs list.
• Junior hitter Brandon Rattray has registered double digit kills in seven of the eight matches this season ... Rattray has 102 kills this season (3.92 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).
• Junior hitter Austin Matautia had season-best 11 kills at UCSD and has totaled at least one ace in five of the eight matches this season ... Matautia played in 25 matches, with nine starts, at Hawai'i last season (1.9 kills per set/ 24 aces / 0.3 blocks per set).
• Senior hitter Dylan Missry has at least one service ace in six of the eight matches this season ... Missry is tied for seventh (also JT Hatch) on the all-time school list for career aces with 82 (rally scoring era of 2001 to the present).
• MB Grant Maleski has moved inside this season to middle blocker after seeing action in eight matches last season at OH, with two starts.
• 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; R-Jr. Jonah Kay saw his first action at UCSD.
• UCLA has won the ace battle in its six wins this season; it has come up short once this season (2-4) in the loss at CSUN ... Last season, it was outaced in just five matches, loss to Long Beach St (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 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; .449 at UCSD) three times (3-0) 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.
• UCLA is 6-0 in 2019 (26-2 last season) when it hits for a higher % than the opponent ... 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.
AVCA Coaches Poll - Jan. 28
1. Long Beach State (16) 240 7-0
2. Hawai'i 220 3-0
3. BYU 201 4-0
4. UC Irvine 197 8-2
5. UCLA 154 6-2
6. Pepperdine 152 5-2
7. Loyola-Chicago 149 6-2
8. Stanford 142 7-1
9. UC Santa Barbara 123 7-3
10. Lewis 100 6-3
11. Ball State 70 4-4
12. CSUN 66 5-4
13. George Mason 49 6-1
14. Ohio State 35 3-4
15. USC 7 5-3
Recv. Votes - Barton, Purdue Fort Wayne, Penn St.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
L/OH
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