WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL / NCAA TOURNAMENT : Undefeated UCLA Breezes Past Ball State

UCLA needed only 53 minutes to dispose of Ball State during the first round of the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament Friday night.

For the Bruins, it was merely one more quick, seemingly effortless step toward their goal of an unprecedented third consecutive national championship.

The scores were 15-1, 15-4, 15-0, before 1,210 at the Wooden Center.

The Bruins scored the final 11 points of the second game before shutting out the Cardinals in the third.

Ball State has only one starter taller than 5 feet 10. None of UCLA’s starters are shorter than 5-10.

The glaring disadvantage led to “desperation at times when you’re that physically outmatched,” said Randy Litchfield, Ball State’s coach. “. . . Frustration as to how to solve the problem, and there really is no solution.”

Marissa Hatchett, a 6-1 middle blocker, had seven blocks, including three solo blocks for the Bruins.

UCLA had a .552 team hitting percentage, with 44 kills and seven errors in 67 total attempts. Elaine Youngs led the Bruins with 12 kills.

UCLA (30-0) has topped the rankings all season and has won 40 consecutive games.

In their 12th consecutive appearance in an NCAA tournament, the Bruins are 11-1 in first-round matches. It was the first appearance in an NCAA tournament for Ball State (22-10), Mid-American Conference champion.

“I think we know that our record doesn’t mean anything up to (the NCAA tournament),” Youngs said. “Every team is going to be out to beat us, so I think our level goes up automatically just knowing that we have one goal--and that’s to win five matches in a row and win the championship.”

UCLA will play host to the West Region championship next weekend. In the semifinals Friday, the Bruins will play the winner of tonight’s match between Arizona State (22-7) and New Mexico (18-11) and Brigham Young (27-3) will play the winner of USC (20-8) vs. Cal State Northridge (27-7).