UCLA Downs Morgan State, 3-0 in NCAA VB Playoffs

WESTWOOD, Calif. -- Kristee Porter had 21 kills and senior Elisabeth Bachman posted nine kills and four blocks as 11th-ranked UCLA knocked off Morgan State in the opening round of the NCAA women's volleyball tournament, 15-4, 15-6, 15-5.

UCLA will face Michigan State at 3 p.m. in Sunday's second round at Pauley Pavilion. MSU defeated UW-Milwaukee in the day's opening match, 15-6, 15-4, 7-15, 19-17.

The Bruins were in control throughout the entire match. Early in game one, UCLA used a 6-0 run to open an 8-2 lead, followed by a 7-0 run to close game one by a 15-4 count. Porter had nine kills in the opening game on 12 swings while Lauren Fendrick had three aces.

UCLA opened game two by scoring seven-straight points, including three kills by Bachman. Morgan State closed the gap to three points at 8-5 before six-straight points gave UCLA a game point at 14-5. After trading sideouts, the Bruins earned a game two 15-5 win.

After the break, Morgan State came out of the gate hot, scoring the first three points. MSU's lone lead of match was short lived, however. Freshman defensive specialist Stacey Lee served UCLA to seven-straight points, including two kills by Alyssa Rylander and two by Bachman. Lee would serve again at 11-5, getting UCLA three points for a 14-5 lead and match point. Morgan State staved off that match point, but the Bruins would put away the game three win on a block assist by Bachman and Krystal McFarland.

Porter notched her 21 kills on 35 swings, good for a .457 hitting percentage. Bachman's nine kills and four blocks improve her career totals to 1,252 kills and 597 blocks. She enters the second round needing three blocks to become the first Bruin and the fifth Pac-10 player ever to record 1,200 career kills and 600 career blocks.

Ashley Bowles added seven kills, seven digs and two block assists while Fendrick posted three kills and four aces. Erika Selsor also dished 38 assists and made eight digs in the win. Overall, UCLA hit .342 while holding Morgan State to .091.

NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament
Mideast Region * Round One
UCLA vs. Morgan State * December 2, 2000
Pauley Pavilion * UCLA * Los Angeles, CA

"We're happy to start the tournament off with a win. I'm very pleased with the way we got things done. We served tough and had a good night hitting. I'm happy to have finished off the match like we did. We were able to give other kids a chance to get a taste of NCAA tournament competition."

"Michigan State (UCLA's second round opponent) is a big, strong attacking team. We've seem them earlier in the year at Notre Dame's tournament."

UCLA junior outside hitter Kristee Porter

"We wanted to start the tournament off right. We accomplished that. I'm proud of the hitters that came off the bench. I think that it was a real good night."

UCLA senior middle blocker Elisabeth Bachman

"We've been working on our blocking and defense in practice. All around, everyone focused hard in practice. We tried to give Morgan State a couple of different looks at the net."

Morgan State head coach Ramona Riley Bozier

"UCLA has done a good job of hosting. We were just happy to be here. I'm proud of our team. UCLA is a very good team and we had our moments. Some of the moments were getting (UCLA outside hitter Kristee) Porter to hit other shots and we had some good blocks on their other players. We're not a very big team, so we tried to get a fast game going."

Morgan State sophomore middle blocker Java Johnson

"We didn't pass well, so it was hard to run the middle. We had two blockers in our way the whole time."

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