Jan. 5, 2005

Eighteen-time NCAA men's volleyball champion UCLA begins the 2005 season by travelling to the 41st Annual UCSB/Elephant Bar Classic, Jan. 7-8. Top-seeded UCLA meets eighth-seeded UC Irvine at 1 p.m. on Court 1 in the Events Center on Fri., Jan. 7. The winner plays at 7:30 p.m. on the same night.

UCLA enters Friday's match after enjoying a six-match unbeaten preseason that produced a tournament title at the Husky Dino Classic in October in Calgary, Canada plus wins against UC Irvine Nov. 13 and the University of British Columbia on Dec. 29. Five of those victories came in three games.

Legendary Head Coach Al Scates begins his 43rd season with a record of 1,083-194 (.848). He has guided the Bruins to 20 national championships and 24 conference crowns.

"We're eager to get off to a good start this week," said Scates. "We had a great preseason and right now we're trying to get back to our [preseason] form. We'll be ready for this tournament."

UCLA's lineup will feature four seniors a sophomore and two freshmen. Seniors Paul Johnson and Allan Vince are slated to start in the middle. Johnson earned All- America and all-conference honors last season. Vince has played 25 matches in two seasons.

At outside hitter the Bruins boast a pair of veteran seniors in three-year lettermen Kris Kraushaar and Jonathan Acosta. Kraushaar earned all-conference honors as a junior starter last season. Acosta, with 650 career kills, is considered one of the most explosive hitters in the college game.

Another returning starter is sophomore opposite Steve Klosterman, who led the Bruins in kills and points last season while earning All-MPSF honors as a freshman.

At setter, last year's starter Dennis Gonzalez is battling with redshirt freshman Julio "Gaby" Acevedo and fourth-year junior Aaron Dodd for the starting position. Gonzalez started 21 matches last season and earned All-MPSF acclaim. Acevedo and Dodd combined to lead the Bruins to the Husky Dino Cup title in the Fall. Acevedo also guided the Bruins to a pair of sweeps in their last two matches.

At Libero, freshman Tony Ker will start following the departure of four-year starter Adam Shrader, UCLA's all-time digs leader. Redshirt freshman Eric Chaghouri figures to be Ker's backup.

Last season, the Bruins won this tournament with victories against Pacific, USC and Cal State Northridge.

Following the UCSB Classic, the Bruins return home for a four-match home-stand beginning with Cal Baptist on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins host UC Irvine on Sat., Jan. 15 in the league opener for both teams.