Bruin Bites: Coaches on Datone, Volleyball Recuiting, Softball Sweeps

It's Monday morning, which means another week has come and gone and we're now one week closer to the end of the academic year, and with it, the end of another year of UCLA athletics. While some spring sports have come to an end (some prematurely), a handful of Bruin squads remain in action, still slogging away toward bringing Westwood its 109th NCAA national title. Here's your bits and pieces of news from around the UCLA-iverse:

• Starting with UCLA's Datone Jones, who was drafted in the first round (26th overall) by the Green Bay Packers, is the focus of a recent article by the Green Bay Press-Gazette. The Packers' local newspaper interviewed both UCLA defensive line coach Angus McClure and Jones' former high school coach, Calvin Bryant of Compton High School, and both men had pretty outstanding things to say about the stand-out defensive end, who will fit in well with Green Bay's 3-4 scheme, having worked in it under Coach Jim Mora and defensive coordinator Lou Spanos.
• With many UCLA teams having the week off before NCAA tournament action (women's water polo and both tennis teams), we take a look at small note on the women's volleyball recruiting front: the Los Angeles Times reports that high school sophomore volleyball player Zana Muno of Sherman Oaks' Notre Dame is beginning to attract serious attention from both UCLA and Pepperdine. Muno, an outstanding multi-sport athlete, can play both beach and indoor volleyball, an important two-way asset for the Bruins.
• Turning to one of the teams in action this past week, the #15-ranked UCLA softball team took on LMU on May Day, putting the Lions down 8-4. Lead-off hitter Stephany LaRosa (2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR) led the Lady Bruins with a paor of bombs to take her season tally to 13, while B.B. Bates (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) came up just short of hitting for the cycle, having picked up a single, and stretching out a double and triple. Ally Carda (6.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 K) picked up her 21st win of the year, taking her to 21-9 on the season.
• On Saturday, the Lady Bruins kept their hot bats alive, blasting Cal State Bakersfield twice to sweep a doubleheader. In the first game, the umpire had to bring it an early end after 5 innings, with the Bruins slaughtering the Roadrunners, 15-0. This time, B.B. Bates (2-3, 3 R, 7 RBI, 2 HR) led the Lady Bruins, launching a pair of homers (making it 22 on the year) which picking up 7 RBIs. Mysha Sataraka (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Jessica Hall (1-1, 1 R, 1 RBI), not willing to be left out, also each blasted one out, the eighth HR for each on the year. Ally Carda (5.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 K) went the complete (shortened) game, picking up her 22nd win of the season. The second game of the doubleheader also didn't go so well for the Roadrunners, with the Lady Bruins picking up another mercy rule win, 8-0 in just 5 innings of action. LaRosa (4-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 HR) went deep again to lead UCLA, while Bates (2-2, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR) picked up her 23rd homer of the season. But the real story of the second game was Bruins' pitcher Jessica Hall (5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 K) who not only blanked the Roadrunners, but held them to a complete game no-hitter in the process. With the three wins, the Lady Bruins now stand at 35-17 overall and 8-13 in conference play.

Alright folks, those are your various bits and pieces of news from around the broader UCLA-iverse. Fire away in the comment thread with your thoughts, additions, and takes.

GO BRUINS