UCLA Sweeps Ohio State to Win 18th Volleyball Title

FORT WAYNE, Ind. —  Brandon Taliaferro saved his best play for last.

As his teammates waited in anticipation, Taliaferro extended his right arm and hoisted the sole object of his attention high above his head.

Unlike the rest of the day, the UCLA senior setter wasn’t setting a volleyball. He was holding up the NCAA championship trophy.

UCLA won its 18th men’s volleyball title by defeating Ohio State, 15-8, 15-10, 17-15, Saturday before 2,738 fans at Allen County Coliseum.

Evan Thatcher delivered 25 kills and Taliaferro, the Bruins’ fiery leader, was selected the tournament most valuable player, an easy choice for those who watched him in action at the Final Four, let alone the rest of the season.

He drilled two aces late in the third game, the only game with any degree of uncertainty, and had a dig to help set up the match-winning kill by Mark Williams.

While his teammates celebrated on the court, Taliaferro ran into the stands to hug his mom, his girlfriend and whomever else he could wrap his arms around.

The All-American deserved to let a few emotions flow.

Taliaferro, who has dealt with back trouble the last three months, kept UCLA patched together as it toyed with lineup changes on a game-by-game basis all season.

Lacking a true go-to player, some questioned whether the Bruins, who were ranked as low as No. 7, would make it to the Final Four, much less win it.

They also had to overcome a disappointing first-round exit last season in the conference tournament, their worst postseason display since 1988.

There’s little doubt about anything now.

“It’s incredible,” said Taliaferro, who acknowledged the Bruins took the challenges personally. “We worked harder than any other team I’ve ever seen.”

It showed in the game plan, as the Bruins finished with an impressive .459 hitting percentage.

Normally a team that shuttles hitters in and out, there was little substituting by UCLA on Saturday.

“The starters just did a fantastic job,” said Scates, who coached in his 22nd championship match and extended his NCAA single-sport record for titles won by a coach.

Ohio State (25-4) had trouble serving--only two aces, compared to eight by UCLA--and passing.

“It wasn’t like we were seeing UCLA as an unbeatable team and an unbeatable program,” Ohio State setter Angel Aja said. “They just played well.”

UCLA extended leads of 6-5 in the first game and 9-7 in the second to prevent the drama of the third game, where Ohio State held a 13-8 advantage.

But Thatcher came up with six kills in the late stages of the game, and an ace by Taliaferro put UCLA ahead, 16-15.

“When you have a player like [Taliaferro], he has to make plays at the right time,” Williams said. “That’s why he is who he is.”