COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL : Bruins Rally to Beat Trojans

In a match that displayed the unpredictability of the top teams in women’s volleyball this season, top-ranked UCLA barely beat eighth-ranked USC Wednesday in a Pacific 10 Conference match.

The Bruins came from behind to win, 10-15, 15-11, 15-10, 4-15, 15-10, before 2,604 at Pauley Pavilion.

Jenny Johnson sealed the victory for UCLA by ending the rally-scoring fifth game with a kill that sailed off the block of USC setter Missy McCaw.

Johnson, a sophomore outside hitter, led the Bruins with 22 kills and 19 digs. Annett Buckner contributed 21 kills for UCLA.

The Bruins, 20-0 overall and 12-0 in the Pac-10, started slowly--Johnson had four hitting errors in the first game--but played with intensity in the fifth game.

“I thought that we stayed aggressive in the fifth game, which is something that we turned on and off throughout the night,” said Andy Banachowski, UCLA coach.

USC (16-5, 8-4) limited the Bruins to a .135 hitting percentage and outblocked the Bruins, 17-11 1/2.

USC’s Meika Wagner led all players with 23 kills.

Katie Haller had 20 digs and 20 kills for USC, breaking a school record with 1,554 kills in her career. Haller surpassed the former record-holder, Nancy Hillman, by 18 kills.

The Bruins, who defeated the Trojans in three games last month, have won 54 consecutive regular-season matches, 33 in the Pac-10.