University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Adam Naeve Leads UCLA To Title Match
May 3, 2001
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) - Top-ranked UCLA and second-ranked Brigham Young won their semifinal matches in four games Thursday night in the NCAA men's volleyball tournament.
BYU defeated Penn State 30-28, 28-30, 30-28, 30-26, in the second half of the semifinal doubleheader at Cal State Long Beach.
UCLA defeated Ohio State 30-21, 30-20, 22-30, 30-24, and will play the Cougars on Saturday for the title.
BYU's blocking and Penn State's poor serving proved to be the difference. The Cougars (22-4) outblocked Penn State 18-5, and the Nittany Lions (24-8) committed 26 service errors to BYU's 11.
Joaquin Acosta scored 17 kills for the Cougars, Hector Lebron passed for 51 assists and Scott Bunker contributed 10 kills and nine block assists.
Penn State's Carlos Guerra and Jose Quinones had match highs of 25 kills and 66 assists, respectively.
In the first match, All-American Adam Naeve pounded a match-high 15 kills. Mark Williams contributed 13 kills and six digs, and setter Rich Nelson passed for 54 assists.
UCLA coach Al Scates increased his record victory total to 1,019, more than any other college volleyball coach. Scates has coached the Bruins since 1963.
Pieter Olree led Ohio State (21-7) with 14 kills. Chris Fash added 12 kills, Greg Lehman recorded a match-high five service aces and Tom Trantow made 10 digs.