Jan. 4, 2013

Box Score

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New Head Coach John Speraw won his UCLA debut and the 200th match of his 11-year career with a thrilling 3-2 victory against one of the Bruins' oldest men's volleyball rivals.

The sixth-ranked Bruins battled back from an 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 in the opening round of the Asics Invitational Friday morning at UCSB's Robertson Gym. Set scores were 25-27, 21-25, 25-22, 25-14, 15-13 in two hours before 210 spectators. The victory was the Bruins' 133rd against the Gauchos in the all-time series.

UCLA, 1-0 overall, meets unranked UC San Diego, a 3-2 winner over No. 6 Lewis at 7:30 p.m. Friday night.

UCLA junior Robart Page pounded a career-high of 22 kills (.514) and also recorded two aces and five total blocks for 27.5 points to lead all players. Junior Gonzalo Quiroga added 11 kills, two aces and four total blocks for 15.5 points. Junior Dane Worley came off the bench and smacked eight kills and served an ace.

In team stats, the Bruins out-blocked (11-8), out-hit (.319-.234) and out-dug (51-44) the Gauchos, who fell to 0-1 overall.

Four UCSB players scored in double figures, led by Ryan Hardy's 13 kills.