COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL : UCLA Wins When Wells Goes to Work

Brian Wells was somewhat stunned when the UCLA men’s volleyball Coach Al Scates sent him into the first game of a match against USC Saturday in the first round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament.

As Wells ran onto the court, screams from his teammates and a whistle from the referee reminded him that he had forgotten something: His earrings .

“Can’t play with jewelry,� he said, smiling, after the match.

Once the tiny silver hoop and stud were removed from one ear lobe, Wells helped the Bruins score a 15-13, 15-13, 15-11 victory before 423 at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA will play host to the tournament’s semifinals and final next Friday and Saturday.

Wells, a 6-foot-2 junior from Punahou High in Honolulu, substituted for 6-7 Kevin Wong, the Bruins’ starting swing hitter who was having difficulty passing. What Wells lacked in height, he made up for with his jump serve, vertical leap and intensity.

“The average height (among starters) is 6-7, so I understand that I am going to have to work that much harder,� said Wells, who has appeared in eight matches this season. “When I get my shot, I’m ready.�

Wells had seven digs and 10 kills in 19 attempts, hitting .368.

“Not only did he bring the jump serve and the passing and the digging, but he was putting balls away, so he was in for the duration,� Scates said.

Top-ranked UCLA (27-1) trailed in all three games before putting away No. 11 USC (11-14).

In other matches, Penn State defeated George Mason, 15-4, 12-15, 15-9, 15-4, to win the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Conference championship, and Ball State defeated Ohio State, 15-5, 17-16, 15-9, to win the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Conference title, earning automatic bids to the NCAA final four May 5-6 at Springfield, Mass. The MPSF tournament champion also will earn an automatic bid, and the NCAA will award one at-large bid.