‘Flat’ UCLA Rebounds to Stop CSUN

So much for first impressions.

Early in Saturday night’s Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball match between UCLA and Cal State Northridge, Matador Coach John Price was confident.

“My first thought was we might get them tonight,” Price said. “They’re weren’t tuned in.”

Maybe not at first. But the top-ranked Bruins quickly rebounded to sweep fourth-ranked Northridge, 15-11, 15-11, 15-7, at Pauley Pavilion.

The Matadors, who have lost three matches in a row, probably need to win three of their last five conference matches to advance to the MPSF tournament, beginning April 28 in Irvine.

UCLA, which had not played in two weeks, improved to 17-2, 12-2 in conference matches. Northridge dropped to 15-8, 9-6 in the MPSF, and Price vowed changes in his approach during practice.

“We’re not going to ask them to do things, we’re going to demand it,” said Price, who endured what he described as “another frustrating night of volleyball.”

Though the Matadors played far better than they did in a four-game loss Thursday to USC, it wasn’t nearly good enough to challenge UCLA.

“We’re still not doing the little things,” Price said.

Northridge saw its best chance slip away early. The Matadors led, 11-6, in the first game only to hit a stretch of poor passing and sloppy ball control.

Tim Kelly started the Bruins’ rally by scoring on a tip over Matt Unger. Northridge’s Peter Piexoto then hit long, allowing UCLA to pull within 11-8.

After a series of sideouts, Northridge’s Jamal Thompson hit wide and Axel Hager hit long and the Bruins were within a point. A service ace by Mike Diehl tied the game and a combined block by Mike Sealy and Jeff Nygaard on a shot by Piexoto put UCLA in the lead for good.

Northridge also led in the early going of the last two games, but UCLA stormed back each time.

Nygaard, a sophomore middle blocker from Madison, Wis., led the Bruins with 23 kills. Diehl added 21 kills and a match-high 15 digs.

Ken Lynch had 23 kills for Northridge. Coley Kyman had 20 kills and a match-high seven blocks for the Matadors.