March 3, 2009

Eleventh-ranked UCLA returns home to Pauley Pavilion to host a pair of matches after playing five of its last six on the road.

On Wed., Mar. 4, the Bruins will host Grand Canyon University and on Fri., Mar. 6, No.2 UC Irvine invades Pauley Pavilion. First-serve for both matches is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Darren Preston and Jade Machado will call the action on uclabruins.com.

Friday's promotion includes High School/Club Team Night. Call 310-206-3444 to register a team.

Grand Canyon is a first-year program led by Coach Chad Spear. The Antelopes are 2-15 overall, but recently snapped an 11-match losing streak. Their top hitters are freshman outside hitter Taylor Griffin (2.8 kpg) and junior middle blocker Tyson Crandell (2.4 kpg).

Second-ranked UC Irvine (14-3, 10-2) sits atop the MPSF standings after beating UC San Diego and Long Beach State last week. The top blocking team in the conference at 3.58 bps, UCI also features one of the league's top hitters in Carson Clark (.429, 3.7 kpg, 4.3 ppg).

Although the Bruins are suffering through a four-match skid, they're 5-2 in Pauley Pavilion this season. UCLA also is hitting .333 at home, nearly 70 percentage points better than its overall season average. In addition, the Bruins are blocking at a 3.32 clip at home -- comparable to UCI's league-leading average.

The Anteaters have beaten the Bruins twice this season, but trail in the series, 52-9. In his seventh season, Head Coach John Speraw (UCLA '95) has guided UCI to a national championship in 2007 and an overall record of 126-72 with one MPSF title. Against his alma mater and former head coach, Speraw is 8-8.