In his final year as the coach of the UCLA men’s volleyball team, Al Scates came into Friday night’s showdown at USC looking to add another signature win to his team’s record this season in unfriendly territory. Instead, he received the warmest welcome from the unlikeliest of places.

The Trojans honored Scates in his final game coaching at USC with a pre-game ceremony that included current and past USC volleyball players and coaches. The celebration culminated with Scates being presented a framed cardinal and gold No. 50 jersey, representing the number of years he has coached UCLA men’s volleyball.

That was all the celebrating the Trojans would do for the night though, as No. 3 UCLA (11-1, 6-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) swept No. 4 USC (5-4, 4-4) 3-0.

“We’re holding our opponents to under .200 and our differential between what we hit and what our opponents hit is the greatest in the country,” Scates said. “It’s because we’re serving tough and we’re blocking well.”

The Trojans pushed the Bruins to the brink of defeat in the first set, 24-22, but UCLA regrouped behind its suffocating defense. On consecutive set points the Bruins sent two kill attempts from USC senior outside hitter Tony Ciarelli back thanks to the blocking duo of redshirt senior quick hitter Weston Dunlap and senior setter Kyle Caldwell.

Deadlocked at 25-25, Dunlap and sophomore outside hitter Gonzalo Quiroga each struck down kills to steal the set and momentum from the Trojans.

Senior opposite hitter Nick Vogel came out roaring in the first set with three kills, breaking the trend of quiet starts for the senior this season. He finished hitting .455 with six digs, three block assists and two blocks.

“That’s the best we’ve blocked all season. Nick Vogel’s becoming an offensive force now at opposite,” Scates said.

USC was unable to overcome UCLA’s blocking and serving, stumbling to a season-low .041 hitting percentage.

Ciarelli ranks fourth in kills in the conference, and is considered one of the premier players in the MPSF. Although he had 10 kills for the Trojans, Ciarelli committed nine errors, a result of the multiple blockers the Bruin defense sent at him all night.

In the second set, UCLA jumped out to a 10-4 lead on the rattled Trojans. USC never recovered and fell 25-15.

The Bruins continued their season-long trend of aggressive and accurate serving.

“The biggest (serving) run of the night was (Jeremy) Casebeer in the second set. He got two runs of three (one was four), which explains the big score. He was really placing his serves,” Scates said.

The Bruins rolled straight into the third set with a 16-11 lead. The Trojans mounted one last charge and flipped a five-point deficit into a 19-19 tie game. UCLA remained poised and closed out the set 25-23 to silence a once-raucous crowd.

Senior quick hitter Thomas Amberg had seven kills and four block assists despite playing injured.

“He sprained his ankle pretty badly Tuesday in practice, and so after Pepperdine he didn’t practice, he got treatment,” Scates said. “But he still got the job done out there.”

With Friday’s game behind them, Scates and the Bruins will hope for one final trip to USC; the Galen Center is the host to this year’s Final Four. Having won its last nine matches, UCLA looks primed to give Scates one more ceremony at USC.

Compiled by Chris Kalra, Bruin Sports contributor