Volleyball upset by Cardinals, 3-0

Published: Monday, March 6, 1995

No. 15 Ball State hands top-ranked UCLA its first loss of the season

By Eric Branch

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

A funny thing happened on the way to a rematch.

Perhaps looking ahead to a possible showdown with Penn State in the championship match of the four-team Volleyball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Mass., the No. 1 UCLA men's volleyball team forgot a few details namely the Ball State Cardinals.

In a stunning upset the15th-ranked Cardinals (10-5) handed the Bruins their first loss of the season Friday night and they did so in convincing fashion dispatching of UCLA 15-5, 15-12, 15-11 in just one hour and 30 minutes.

Although Penn State did everything they could to set up a rematch of last years NCAA final by beating Springfield in their opener, the Bruins could do nothing right. In fact, outside of showing up at Blake Arena, the Bruins (13-1) did little else during the rest of the evening.

"We couldn't pass, we couldn't hit, we couldn't block," UCLA head coach Al Scates said. "It was a nightmare. It was easily the worst match of the season we must have been focused on Penn State again."

UCLA, which had never lost to Ball State (11-0 career), entered the match having dropped just three games all season. However, they succeeded in matching that total in one night after being completely outhit (.339 to .250) and outblocked (14 to five) by the Cardinals. Outside hitter Todd Reimer led the Ball State attack with a match-high 19 kills while middle blocker Greg Romano contributed 16 kills, 10 digs, four aces and three block solos.

"They were fired up and they had a great game plan," Scates said. "I mean it was beautiful they did everything right. They'll never play that way again."

Scates can only hope his own team is incapable of an encore performance. All-American Player of the Year Jeff Nygaard posted as many errors as kills (six) while swing hitter Erik Sullivan, one of the top passers in the nation, tallied three reception errors.

"Everyone has an off night," Scates said. "It's just that everyone shouldn't have it on the same night. It usually takes Erik eight matches to have that many (reception errors)."

While the debacle left a bitter pill in Scates' mouth, the win may have been the best thing to happen in Muncie, Ind., since Ball State alum David Letterman hit the airwaves.

"It was the greatest win of (Ball State head) coach Shondell's career and he's been coaching for 31 years," Scates said. "I read that in the paper today. He may retire now. I don't know he might not even finish the season."

* * *

Releasing enough pent-up anger to sink a small ship the Bruins spent Saturday night kicking around host school Springfield College (7-3) 15-7, 15-6, 15-4 in the consolation match.

The one hour and 20 minute dismantling was highlighted by a season-high .540 team hitting percentage and match-highs of 15 kills and seven aces by Nygaard. Swing hitter Kevin Wong added eight digs and quick hitter John Speraw finished the tournament with 17 kills, 0 errors and a .680 hitting percentage.

"They're just a tiny school back in the East and the good teams should hammer them which we did," said Scates who notched career win No. 850.