UCLA women’s volleyball find some rhythm in Arizona beatings
Sophomore outside hitter Karsta Lowe has had an impact on the Bruins’ 2012 season even though she is not a regular starter.
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 10, 2012 12:24 a.m.
While UCLA women’s volleyball showed moments of promise in their sweeps of the Arizona schools last weekend, long-term progress remains the team’s focus.
One of those long-term aspirations is thriving in its new offensive system.
“I think we are finally figuring out what (the faster offense) is going to look like. It’s not as consistent as we would want it (right now), but there are glimpses of greatness,” said sophomore setter Megan Moenoa.
“We’re starting to see what it’s going to look like in (the NCAA tournament) in December. It’s nice, but hopefully it just continues to get more consistent.”
With so many changes, consistency has been tough to find so far with so many changes. From stressing better blocking to faster offense, the learning curve has been set high for the No. 7 Bruins.
The key to the Bruin offense’s development of consistency may be for the setter, Moenoa, to achieve the same.
“I’m working a lot on giving the hitters the same look every time. So I set up the same way and I jump the same height, just so they can feed off my energy and they’ll be able to read me and where I’m setting (to make it) easier (on the hitters),” Moenoa said.
One thing that has been consistent, though, is junior outside hitter Kelly Reeves and the Bruins’ constructive approach after each game this season, including their decisive sweeps this weekend.
“It was OK but we can always do more,” Reeves said.
Get Lowe?
Despite sophomore outside hitter Karsta Lowe’s off game against Arizona on Sunday, she now ranks 24th in the nation with a .392 hitting percentage. She came into the weekend ranked 40th.
Lowe is the only Bruin in the top 50, yet she doesn’t start.
Coach Michael Sealy justified her current playing time, which isn’t every point, but rather stretches of plays every set.
“We use her how we use her. There’ll be some times when she’s splitting that position (outside hitter) with Kelly Reeves,” Sealy said.
“There are many rotations when Kelly needs to be in to solidify the passing to defense. And Karsta comes in and plays the offensive part for that position, so they’ll always split that position.”
