Bruins look forward to digging grave for Gaucho

Published: Friday, January 31, 1997

Friday, January 31, 1997

M. VOLLEYBALL:

UCLA has improved since last meeting with UCSBBy Jennifer Kollenborn

Daily Bruin Contributor

Spike it. Block it. Win it.

After sweeping Cal State Northridge 3-0 Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion, the No. 1 ranked Bruins confidently await their next challenger.

"We're playing much better," freshman Brandon Taliaferro said.

UCLA takes on UC Santa Barbara in its second crucial Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Division match tonight at 7 p.m. in the Wooden Center.

Last season, the Bruins lost two of three contests to UCSB but they defeated the Gauchos in a tight 3-2 contest in the MPSF championship match at Hawaii. The win gave UCLA an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, where the Bruins seized their 16th title.

This season, UCLA lost to the Gauchos in an exhibition tournament at Santa Barbara 16-17, 11-15 earlier this month. However, the Bruins' progress may give them an edge over UCSB.

"We've improved since we last played Santa Barbara," assistant coach Brian Rofer said. "(Friday) we are going to stress our digging."

The Gauchos (1-2, 1-1) got off to a slow start by losing two of their first three matches. Yet, the Bruins are not taking this match lightly.

"I thought (Santa Barbara) was the best team last year in the playoffs," UCLA head coach Al Scates said. "I thought we were lucky to beat them. They're on fire."

The two dominant forces for the Gauchos are seniors Donny Harris and Robert Treahy. "(Harris and Treahy) are the two guys we have to stop, especially Harris," Scates said.