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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, December 8, 2006

UCLA Bruins

 •  Red-hot Rainbows face Trojan team with no apparent weaknesses

Advertiser Staff

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Setter Nellie Spicer, left, and middle blocker Nana Meriwether earned Pac-10 first-team honors this season. Both, along with Katie Carter, were on the Hawaiian Airlines Classic all-tournament team.

UCLA photos

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Record: 31-3, Pac-10: 15-3 (t2nd)

National ranking: No. 4, Seed: No. 4

Head coach: Andy Banachowski

SCOUTING REPORT: BRUINS' MERIWETHER LEADS NATION IN HITTING, BLOCKING

All-time NCAA tournament record: 65-22

Last week: In the Los Angeles sub-regional, UCLA swept Utah and UAB. ...

Tough competition: The Bruins' only losses this season were against opponents ranked in the top 6. They won their first 20 matches. ...

Banachowski is tops: UCLA's Andy Banachowski, in his 40th season, is 1,035-269. He is the winningest coach in women's volleyball history. ...

Honors: Banachowski was named Pacific Region Coach of the Year. Senior middle blocker Nana Meriwether, senior outside hitter Katie Carter and sophomore setter Nellie Spicer were named to the Pacific Region first team. ...

UCLA nearing century mark: UCLA has 99 national championships with the women's volleyball team contributing three (1984, 1990 and 1991). ...

Meriwether a building block: In two matches last weekend, Meriwether had 27 kills, 14 blocks, and hit .480. ... She has 18 solo blocks and a UCLA and Pac-10 record 205 block assists this season.

"It means a lot to me but I try not to think about my individual awards. I look to further work with my teammates get a win," Meriwether said. "If I get a record along the way it's because my teammates are pushing me and supporting me to do so." ...

Meriwether also leads the nation with a .458 hitting percentage and 1.96 blocks per game.

Speed limit: Banachowski said of Oklahoma: "They're fast and quick with the ball and real aggressive."

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