Volleyball embarks on the road to Austin
UCLA's quest for Final Four in Austin begins against Georgia Tech University
By Eric Branch
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
After a program accumulates six national championships, 24 consecutive playoff appearances and a national ranking of No. 4 or higher in 19 of the past 23 years, it would seeming prone to complacency.
However, on the eve of the second round of the NCAA Championships, the No. 3 UCLA women's volleyball team (28-3 overall, 16-2 in Pac-10) is plenty hungry. When a team has a year to contemplate how last year's 30-2 version was upended in the NCAA quarterfinals by Brigham Young in Wooden Center, anger overrides complacency. Usually soft-spoken Pac-10 Player of the Year Annett Buckner is proof of that.
"We want to make sure what happened last year doesn't happen again," Buckner said. "I'll make sure no one forgets."
The Bruins begin their run for redemption Saturday at 7 p.m.in Pauley Pavilion against unranked Georgia Tech (25-8, 11-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference). The Yellow Jackets are making their first ever NCAA tournament appearance. While the ACC is not exactly a hotbed of volleyball talent, Georgia Tech enters Westwood as winners of eight of their last nine matches. As the Bruins enjoyed a first-round bye, the Yellow Jackets upended George Mason, 15-10, 15-11, 5-15, 15-5, Wednesday night to reach Saturday's second round.
Bruin head coach Andy Banachowski knows a little about Georgia Tech head coach Shelton Collier's style from their coaching together with the U.S National team.
"Shelton is an excellent coach and he runs a good program," Banachowski said. "They run a real aggressive, attacking offense."
Indeed, after enduring an 8-30 campaign in 1990, Tech is 107-40 since Collier took over in 1991. As a result of Collier's aggressive offensive style, Georgia Tech is ranked fourth in the nation in kills per game (14.46). This year's relentless attack is spearheaded by junior outside hitter Cris Omiecinski who leads the Jackets in kills and ranks second in digs. Junior middle blocker Kerry Annel leads the Yellow Jackets in hitting percentage and blocks while ranking second in kills.
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Two Bruins were named to the First Team Pac-10 All-Academic team. Sophomore setter Kelly Flannigan was recognized for her 3.51 GPA in physiological sciences. Senior middle blocker Alyson Randick was recognized for her 3.17 GPA in environmental science.
Junior outside hitter and communications major Jenny Johnson was named as Honorable Mention with a 3.09 GPA.