Waves Succumb to True Believer

The resume of UCLA Coach Al Scates is decorated with 16 national championships, 912 victories and a winning record against every men’s volleyball team UCLA has played.

Add another bullet: One proven case of clairvoyance.

Not that Scates has been studying tarot cards, but he did predict the top-ranked Bruins’ 7-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-10 victory over No. 5 Pepperdine in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match Friday night at Pauley Pavilion.

The result was a reversal of Feb. 13, when Pepperdine tore through UCLA in three games and prompted Scates’ two-word prediction on what would change when the teams met again: “The outcome.”

The result Friday was mainly decided by UCLA’s runs at critical junctures in the last three games.

The second game was especially costly for the Waves, who looked strong in winning the first game, and led the second, 9-7, and appeared to have a shot at pulling into a first-place tie in the MPSF.

But the Bruins put together a 5-0 run during Adam Naeve’s serve.

Former Notre Dame High standout Tom Stillwell had two blocks and two kills late in the game for the Bruins (18-3, 14-2 in MPSF play).

Pepperdine (17-6, 12-4) had another late-game crisis in the third. And the fourth.

Both times, the Waves trailed, 11-10. Both times, the Bruins had more punch.

Depth was also a factor in the fourth game. Naeve, a 6-foot-10 freshman, was replaced by Danny Farmer.

Better known as the first freshman in UCLA history to lead the Bruin football team in receptions, Farmer showed he could also perform on the volleyball court, delivering two kills and a block that put UCLA up, 12-10.

Scates’ statement came true shortly thereafter.

“I knew we couldn’t play that poorly again,” Scates said. “I was embarrassed.”

Kevin Barnett, who got the Waves going with eight first-game kills and finished with 20, wasn’t so thrilled.

“It’s a shame it came true,” he said.

Phil Nihipali led UCLA with 25 kills and Stillwell had 17. UCLA’s win streak, which began after the Pepperdine loss, is at 13.

Pepperdine’s George Roumain had 19 kills.