The No. 2 UCLA men's volleyball team started slow and finished fast in a four set decision over Princeton (1-2) on Friday night in Collins Court at the John Wooden Center. Scores of the match were 22-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-14. UCLA improved to 4-0 on the season and was led by the 13-kill performance by outside hitter Alex Knight.
Princeton wiped out an 5-2 early UCLA lead in set one with a four-point run to go in front 6-5. The score was then tied at points 6 through 12. After UCLA grabbed a 14-12 advantage, the Tigers came right back to go up 16-17. The Bruins grabbed a 19-18 lead after a Princeton error, but it was the last one of the set for the home team. Princeton rattled off three straight to go up 19-21 and then put together another three-point run after UCLA had closed to 20-22 to capture the set. The Bruins hit just .095 for the frame.
The Bruins went up 3-1 to begin set two but the Tigers came alive and the score was quickly tied at 3 and then stayed even until 9-all. Kills by Knight and Grant Sloane lifted the Bruins in front by a 12-9 count. After Princeton narrowed the margin to 15-14, the Bruins answered with a series of blocks and a kill by Guy Genis to move into a 19-15 lead. A couple of Cole Ketrzynski kills and a Merrick McHenry swing pushed UCLA to a 25-18 win. The Bruins hit .429 for the set.
UCLA broke a 4-all tie in set three and moved ahead 9-5 after a Miles Partain kill. The margin grew to 14-7 following a Knight/Genis block. A Champlin ace made it 17-13 and a Sloane smash put UCLA up 22-17. Knight's block solo advanced UCLA to set point, at 24-17. A Tiger service error gave the Bruins a 25-20 win.
In set four, UCLA broke a 4-all tie and jumped out to a 12-6 advantage after a couple of aces from freshman Andrew Rowan. A Knight kill made it 15-9. Aces by Genis and Partain helped the Bruins gain a 19-11 edge. McHenry's kill put UCLA up 21-12 and a Ketrzynski swing made it 24-14. A Tiger error provided set point for the Bruins and resulted in a 25-14 decision.
Partain finished with a career-high seven kills in the contest. Knight added six blocks. Troy Gooch totaled eight digs to share team-high honors with Partain. The Bruin home stand continues next Friday (UC Santa Barbara) and Saturday (UC San Diego) in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m.
Princeton wiped out an 5-2 early UCLA lead in set one with a four-point run to go in front 6-5. The score was then tied at points 6 through 12. After UCLA grabbed a 14-12 advantage, the Tigers came right back to go up 16-17. The Bruins grabbed a 19-18 lead after a Princeton error, but it was the last one of the set for the home team. Princeton rattled off three straight to go up 19-21 and then put together another three-point run after UCLA had closed to 20-22 to capture the set. The Bruins hit just .095 for the frame.
The Bruins went up 3-1 to begin set two but the Tigers came alive and the score was quickly tied at 3 and then stayed even until 9-all. Kills by Knight and Grant Sloane lifted the Bruins in front by a 12-9 count. After Princeton narrowed the margin to 15-14, the Bruins answered with a series of blocks and a kill by Guy Genis to move into a 19-15 lead. A couple of Cole Ketrzynski kills and a Merrick McHenry swing pushed UCLA to a 25-18 win. The Bruins hit .429 for the set.
UCLA broke a 4-all tie in set three and moved ahead 9-5 after a Miles Partain kill. The margin grew to 14-7 following a Knight/Genis block. A Champlin ace made it 17-13 and a Sloane smash put UCLA up 22-17. Knight's block solo advanced UCLA to set point, at 24-17. A Tiger service error gave the Bruins a 25-20 win.
In set four, UCLA broke a 4-all tie and jumped out to a 12-6 advantage after a couple of aces from freshman Andrew Rowan. A Knight kill made it 15-9. Aces by Genis and Partain helped the Bruins gain a 19-11 edge. McHenry's kill put UCLA up 21-12 and a Ketrzynski swing made it 24-14. A Tiger error provided set point for the Bruins and resulted in a 25-14 decision.
Partain finished with a career-high seven kills in the contest. Knight added six blocks. Troy Gooch totaled eight digs to share team-high honors with Partain. The Bruin home stand continues next Friday (UC Santa Barbara) and Saturday (UC San Diego) in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m.