Spikers want another shot at Bruins

By BRIAN EPSTEIN
Collegian Sports Writer

When the No. 4 men's volleyball team (9-2) travels to Springfield, Mass., to take on Springfield at 7 p.m. today in the Volleyball Hall of Fame Classic, a team on the other side of the bracket will draw most of Lions' attention.

The No. 1 team in the land, UCLA, will take on No. 15 Ball State (8-5) in the other first-round match. Barring a major upset, the Lions and the Bruins (12-0) will battle in the championship match at 7 p.m. tomorrow. UCLA holds an 11-0 lifetime record against Ball State and unranked Springfield is not expected to pose much of a problem for the Lions.

"It's something I know everyone on the team is looking forward to," senior opposite Ed Josefoski said. "We really want to get (UCLA), but if we play well against them, win or lose we'll be happy. But I think we're a better team than them."

If the team hopes to back Josefoski's statement, it must improve on its early season showing against the Bruins in the Hawaii Collegiate Classic from Jan. 25. In the much-anticipated rematch of the 1994 national championship, the Lions committed 31 hitting errors and hit a ghastly .184 in a 15-9, 15-11, 15-10 loss.

But Lion senior co-captain Brian Miller said the team is much more comfortable with its identity than it was at the beginning of the season.

"Not only did we hit too many balls out of bounds, but we had guys starting who had never played at that level of competition before," he said. "Everyone on our team is playing at a higher level now, and our hitting has improved as a result."

The Bruins, led by 1994 American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year Jeff Nygaard (five kills per game) and sophomore opposite Paul Nihipali (5.6 kpg), are coming off two wins at No. 9 Brigham Young. One of those wins was an 80-minute sweep before the nation's largest crowd this year (5,716).

But Lion Coach Mark Pavlik said the Lions are ready to stop the Bruins' bid for a fourth undefeated season.

"Our guys have really come to know where they're at and how far they can go," he said. "We're in the process of just wrapping up everyone being on the same page, and I think that's good.

"Who knows, maybe we'll be the first (team) to beat them. And if not now, maybe in May (in the NCAA championship)."

Note:

-- Bruin Coach Al Scates, the NCAA's all-time leader in career coaching victories, is one win shy of 850. His career record of 849-132 (.865) not only leads all Division I, II and III coaches for total victories and winning percentage, he has also led his teams to a record 14 national championships and three undefeated seasons.