WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL : UCLA Not Sharp but Beats USC in Consecutive Games

The UCLA women’s volleyball team may lack the drive and determination it had last season en route to winning the national championship, but the Bruins are still too much for USC.

By defeating USC in consecutive games Tuesday night, the Bruins extended domination over their cross-town rival. The last time USC defeated UCLA was in 1987.

But despite Tuesday’s 16-14, 16-14, 15-7 victory before 711 at USC’s Lyon Center, the Bruins did not appear the same team that used to run up points almost at will.

UCLA Coach Andy Banachowski pointed out that desire may be harder to come by for a team defending the national championship than it is for a team that last season was playing for the title after being bumped out of the playoffs twice in the semifinals.

He then explained that this Bruin team is not the same team as last season’s, which had Holly McPeak guiding a powerful offense that included Samantha Shaver and Traci Broadway. Nor is it as powerful this season with Jenny Evans out with a shoulder injury.

“We have some different personnel, and we’re not as quick as we were last year,” he said. “We’ve lost something in ball control, and we’re not as strong, but we still manage to come out on top.”

The No. 4-ranked Bruins, 19-4 overall and 11-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference, were led by Natalie Williams, fourth in the nation in kills, who had a game-high 24 to go with 12 digs. No. 12 USC (17-4, 9-3), which was outhit .313 to .194, was led by Marcela Morales and Brazilian Cica Baccelli with 15 kills apiece.