UCLA Sweeps Penn State to Win Title

Steve Klosterman and Damien Scott helped UCLA win its NCAA-record 19th volleyball title Saturday, leading the Bruins to a 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 victory over Penn State.

Klosterman had 14 kills and seven digs, and Damien Scott had 12 kills for the Bruins (26-12) in their 14th straight victory.

“It’s very satisfying,” UCLA Coach Al Scates, who is in his 44th season, said. “This team did not get very much respect. We didn’t even have a first- or second-team all-league player, and of course no All-Americans, so it was very satisfying to win this, perhaps the most satisfying win we’ve had.”

Matt Proper led the Nittany Lions (21-9) with 13 kills, and Dan O’Dell had a game-high 39 assists for the Lions, who hit only 15.7%. In contrast, UCLA hit almost 30% and finished with 16 blocks to Penn State’s nine.

Trailing 19-12 in the second game, the Bruins used two 5-1 runs and took their first lead at 28-27 on Klosterman’s ace. UCLA scored the final four points to take the game.

In the third game, the Bruins and Lions traded points early before Penn State grabbed a three-point lead at 23-20 on a UCLA net violation. From there, UCLA got kills from Klosterman, Scott and Nick Sheftic to pull ahead, 29-25.

“The whole season, once it got down to the end we just turned it on really hard,” Klosterman said. “ ... We really seem to turn it on when it matters, and it’s been like that all season.”

UCLA made its 24th appearance in the title game, also a record, despite starting the season 12-12 and having the second-most losses ever for a Bruin team.

The 12 losses are the most ever for an NCAA champion since the start of the tournament in 1970.

“To go from ninth in the conference to national champions, that says a lot about the character and grit of their team,” Penn State Coach Mark Pavlik said.