UCLA Has Too Much for CSUN

Over the years, the UCLA men’s volleyball team hasn’t needed much help to get past Cal State Northridge.

In the history of the series between the two schools, the Bruins are 10-0.

So when Northridge compounded the situation with a number of errors in a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. match Friday night at UCLA, the results were predictable.

Bruins in three: 15-5, 15-8, 15-3.

“They were a lot better and we didn’t play well,” said Northridge Coach John Price after his team’s season-ending match. “You can’t do that against UCLA.”

The match was over in 55 minutes. As much could have been expected in a meeting of teams heading in opposite directions.

UCLA, rated third in the nation by Volleyball Monthly magazine, advances to the NCAA West Regional tournament Thursday at Loyola Marymount University. The Bruins, 28-8 overall, 14-5 in conference, will be among four teams battling in the regionals for a position in the Final Four at Penn State May 2-3.

At the regionals, UCLA will join second-rated Pepperdine, Hawaii and either Stanford or Penn State. The regional final will be held next Saturday at Loyola, with the winner advancing to the Final Four.

UCLA, 11 times a national champion, expects to still be playing at this time of the year.

Northridge, which finished its season at 17-19, 6-14 in conference, made strides of its own in 1986 despite not qualifying for postseason play.

The six victories within the CIVA, which has crowned 15 of 16 national champions since its formation, were the most in Northridge history. In addition, the Matadors claimed upset wins at home over San Diego State and UC Santa Barbara, each rated among the Top 10 in the nation.

Friday, however, Northridge never had a chance. UCLA, which got 11 kills from All-American Asbjorn Volstad, was in control throughout the match.

Don Dendinger had seven kills, and Reed Sunahara and Matt Whitaker added six each to pace the Bruins.

Price said his team’s own errors gave UCLA more help than the traditional national power needed.

“They earned most of their points on our errors,” he said. “We never got in a position to win.”

Errors, however, weren’t the only difference.

“They just have superior talent,” Price said of the Bruins.

That trend isn’t likely to reverse itself in the near future. Northridge, which had its best season without finishing over .500, loses six of its top seven players next season. Junior setter Mike Bird of Calabasas, who had six kills against UCLA, is the only returning regular.

Chuck English, who last season became the first-ever Northridge player to earn All-CIVA honors, had nine kills in his final collegiate contest.