Fifth-Ranked UCLA Too Strong for No. 21 Utah

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Omaha ? Strong finishes to each game and dominant play at the net propelled fifth-ranked UCLA to a 3-0 sweep (30-23, 30-21, 30-27) over No. 21 Utah Friday night in the opening match of the 2007 AVCA Showcase at the QwestCenter.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

UCLA turned a late one-point lead into a seven-point game one victory, won by nine in game two after leading just 19-17 and erased a 27-23 deficit with seven consecutive points in the third and final game. The Bruins’ late play secured their 10th consecutive victory in a season opener and 36th in the last 38 seasons.

 

The Bruin defense was terrific all match, limiting Utah to .092 hitting and recording 12 blocks while forcing the Utes into 29 attack errors. Offensively, UCLA was led by a double-double from Ali Daley, who also closed out the match with three consecutive aces. Dailey finished with 11 kills and 13 digs, while 2006 first-team All-American Nellie Spicer moved into sixth-place on the all-time UCLA assists chart with 36 on the night.

 

Utah held UCLA to a .174 hitting percentage and recorded 68 digs, but four Utes hit .000 or negative on the night. Kathryn Haynie finished with 11 kills on 31 swings and Kate Robison nearly finished with a double-double, recording 14 digs and nine kills, despite 10 attack errors.

 

Game one was back and forth early until UCLA took control behind the serving of Spicer. With Spicer on serve, the Bruins turned a 6-5 deficit into a 10-6 advantage.

 

Utah pulled within one three times, the last at 20-19 before a 6-0 UCLA run ignited a fantastic finish that saw the Bruins score 10 of the final 14 points to take game one, 30-23.  UCLA was dominating at the net, recording seven blocks in the game while holding Utah to .058 hitting.

 

In the second game, another UCLA run put the Bruins firmly in control. Tied at 10-10, UCLA scored eight of the next nine points, despite recording just two kills. The run was fueled by six Utah hitting errors, including three straight Bruin blocks that forced a Utah timeout at 18-11.

 

Following the timeout, UCLA returned the favor with three consecutive attack errors of its own to make the score 18-14. After the teams traded service errors, a Utah block and a UCLA ball handling error cut the Bruins’ lead to 19-17.

 

Just as it did in game one, UCLA closed game two strong, turning a two-point game into a 30-21 victory after scoring 11 of the final 15 points. Utah held UCLA to just .122 hitting in the second game while recording four blocks, but the Utes were unable to capitalize after hitting just .026.

 

Following the break, Utah came out strong in game three to lead by more than one point for the first time in the match at 4-2. UCLA came back to take a 9-7 lead before Utah pulled even at 10-10 for the second consecutive game. A 3-0 Utah run gave the Utes a 13-10 advantage, their then-largest lead of the night.

 

The two teams traded leads, but it was Utah who reached 20 first, taking a 21-19 lead and building a 23-21 advantage before a UCLA timeout. The Utes extended their lead to 27-23 before an incredible answer from UCLA.

 

Keeping with the theme of the night, the Bruins erased the four-point deficit by scoring the match’s final seven points to roar back for a 30-27 win, capped by three consecutive aces from Dailey.

 

With the win, UCLA (1-0) advances to Saturday’s 8:30 p.m. championship match against the winner of Friday’s late match between No. 1 Nebraska and Tennessee. Utah (0-1) will face the loser at 6:30 p.m.