UCI swept, but proud of season

Steve Virgen

There are several levels the UC Irvine women’s volleyball team has

reached in its past two seasons as the bar raised at the end of each

year.

UCLA swept the Anteaters, 30-24, 30-28, 30-22, in UCI’s first

appearance in the second round of the NCAA tournament Saturday at

Pauley Pavilion. UCLA advanced to the regionals, but for the

Anteaters (24-10), the standard has moved up a notch.

In each game, the ‘Eaters showed signs of a program seemingly

filled with promise. Yet, Saturday night that wasn’t enough. UCLA was

just on another level, though the Bruins were not totally pleased

with their match.

UCLA Coach Andy Banachowski said the Bruins were not at their

best, and that was mainly because UCI’s size and feistiness.

“We played with great intensity,” UCI Coach Charlie Brande said.

“I’m very proud of how hard we played. As things got close some of

our inexperience showed. We were making some mistakes that we

probably shouldn’t have made.”

Brande was also proud of UCI’s breakthrough season. When asked to

put the Anteaters’ season in perspective, Brande delivered a fact.

“It’s been the best season in school history,” he said.

The Anteaters’ 24 wins are the best in school annals. Their

second-place finish in the Big West Conference is their highest ever.

UCI had been to the NCAA tournament just once before this season.

In 1988, the Anteaters lost in five games to Long Beach State. But in

2003, UCI won a thrilling five-game match over Missouri, recording

its first NCAA tournament victory.

UCI’s season still seemed to have ended on a feel-good note. That

wasn’t the case as what unfolded during the first game.

The Bruins (23-8), who have three NCAA titles in their history,

took control with a 21-14 lead, but junior outside hitter Kelly Wing,

a first-team All-Big West performer, led an Anteater comeback.

After an Amanda Vasquez kill gave UCI serve, Wing served for five

straight points to bring the ‘Eaters within 21-20. She collected an

ace and a back-row kill during the run, while junior Dana Kurzbard

recorded two kills. Terbrie Taylor chipped in with 14 kills for UCI.

However, UCLA answered with a five-point burst and stayed in

control for the win. Brittany Ringel led UCLA with 14 kills, while

Newport Harbor High product Heather Cullen was one of three girls to

collect 10 kills.

They were important in the second game, when the Bruins held off

UCI. That’s when the Anteaters played their best game of the match.

UCI opened with a 3-0 lead. UCLA came back yet it never had more than

a four-point lead.

The Bruins led, 29-26, but the ‘Eaters scored two straight.

However, UCLA won the game, as it called a timeout and after the

break Wing’s serve went wide to end the game.

Wing led UCI with 18 kills. She contended for Big West Player of

the Year honors as she won the conference’s Player of the Week five

times this season. When asked is she wanted to make a statement

against a team with tradition, Wing said, “I was just going out there

trying to win.

“We just wanted to go out and play as hard as we could,” she said.

“Everyone played their hearts out.”

Brande is planning for that effort to return next year, when

expectations will be high.

“Things look very good,” Brande said. “We have Kelly [Wing] coming

back, we have everyone coming back. The one question mark we’ll have

to solve is Brenda Waterman. Brenda has been a major part of our

transformation to where we are today. We’ll have to find someone with

ball control skills and leadership skills.”

Waterman, a Newport Harbor High product, cried after the match,

yet did not seem sad.

“It’s been a great four years,” she said. “We have gone through a

lot and we progressed a lot as a team. My freshman year I don’t think

we ever thought we would make it here. It’s been a great run and I’m

proud to have played with these girls.”