Dorrellian? women's volleyball suffers a bad loss against ASU

Seems to happen every year. They get some good wins and then end up suffering some really bad losses. When was the last time these guys have won a national title?

I am guessing at a school like UCLA we get our share of talent. Yet I just don't remember the last time these guys were in a serious national title hunt. Seems like an underachieving bunch to me.

If others disagree, would love to hear counterpoints. From what I see on surface I see a program that has been good enough, but not up to UCLA standards, since the mid 90s.

GO BRUINS.

over 2 years ago Nestor 3 comments 0 recs |

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We went to the national semis

in 2006 so we were in contention there, but that’s been about it.

I don’t really want to call out women’s volleyball though because if you look at recent years, our success across the board hasn’t been what it once was. Softball, women’s volleyball, track, men’s soccer, gymnastics. They’ve all been a notch below what they once were and we haven’t had any programs that have a history of mediocrity, like baseball, swimming or cross country, step up and be a national title contender.

I’ve been mulling this trend over for a while now and would like to get some answers as to why this is. Is it just a bad spell that’s bound to turn around? Are we not paying our coaches enough so we have the best out there? Are our facilities so sub-par that players don’t develop as well and it keeps us from recruiting as well? I don’t know, but it’s a disconcerting trend.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 26, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions

This volleyball program

doesn’t seem like where it was in early to mid 90s. Something has changed. Clearly coach Andy B has made some great contributions to UCLA’s athletic history. However, I think something is not working as well it did in the past.

As for softball I want to see how it goes for the new coach in next two years. Men’s soccer … not impressed right now.

by Nestor on Sep 26, 2009 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Non-revenue in general

I’m interested in Rye’s comments. Two years ago, we had a terrific run, if I recall, thanks to women’s water polo, golf, tennis. But some of these sports in which we were once the powerhouse seem to have fallen back.

But each sport seems to have a different problem. Softball has the talent but can’t seem to put it together. Ditto men’s soccer, which consistently fields amazing talent but falls short. Women’s voilleyball doesn’t seem to get the recruits it used to. The Nebraska win may have been a mixed blessing—maybe the Huskers are down this year, and it gave the Bruins some false hopes. Or else maybe they;re just inconsistent.

I’m a great fan of Andy B., so I’m inclined to let the season play out and see what happens, but 30+ years is a long time to do anything, and maybe it’s time for a change.

But thanks for these updates, Rye. I go to the AD site a couple of times a week, but it doesn’t give the analysis I get from you.

by Herodotus on Sep 28, 2009 6:22 AM PDT reply actions