MICHAEL MANTEL Senior Matt Komer will be
asked to repeat the hurt he put on a CSULB blocker against No. 2
Pepperdine.
By Hannah Gordon
Daily Bruin Reporter
“”˜Cause the whole world loves it when you
don’t get down.”
As the men’s volleyball team sang OutKast while they
jogged the courts, one had to wonder if they even remember what
it’s like to not get down. The No. 1 Bruins have won their
last seven matches.
But tonight the Bruins (9-1, 4-0 MPSF) might just remember that
feeling as they face No. 2 Pepperdine (10-2, 5-0 MPSF), the only
team to beat them this season.
“And the whole world loves it when you make that
sound,” they sang.
Against Pepperdine, Jan. 12, was the sound of a broom as the
Bruins were swept 30-27, 30-26, 30-27.
“We didn’t execute,” junior outside hitter
Cameron Mount said. “I think we underestimated them. Tonight
will be a different match.”
Tonight may be different because the Bruins have something to
prove. It is also different because the Bruins are not at full
strength as they were a month ago. Freshman outside hitter Jonathan
Acosta is still out with an abdominal strain. He is joined on the
bench by sophomore outside hitter Jesse Debban and freshman outside
hitter Brennan Prahler.
“We have about three guys out for a while, but we are
starting to regroup,” said senior outside hitter Matt Komer,
who led the Bruins in their last two matches with 20 kills, and 13
kills, respectively.
“Having Acosta out hurts us, but we have backups that will
perform,” Komer added.
“And the whole world loves it when you’re in the
news,” they chanted over and over.
With a No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup, the Bruins and the Waves
should be the match to watch this week. Both teams come in with
undefeated league records, but only one will leave with their
record intact.
“This is probably our toughest match so far,” Mount
said. “There is a good rivalry historically with Pepperdine,
and then the fact that the are the only team to beat us.”
“They all block well. They all hit well. They all serve
well. Like us,” he added.
The Waves are a balanced team, making them tough to beat despite
not having many big names. Despite losing some key seniors, UCLA
assistant coach John Speraw thinks they are better than last
year.
“They distribute the ball to all five offensive
players,” Speraw said, “We will have to be really solid
in blocking and serve tough.”
As their coach looked on, the Bruins continued to sing.
“And the whole world loves it when you sing the
blues.”
The world will have to wait.