1998 Outrigger Hotels Invitational
Jan. 7  UCLA vs. Ball State, 5 p.m.*
Jan. 8  UCLA vs. Penn State, 5 p.m.*
Jan. 9  UCLA vs. Hawaii, 7:30 p.m.*
*All match times HST

The UCLA men's volleyball team begins its quest for a record 17th NCAA title under coach Al Scates, who enters his 36th season at the helm of the nation's most successful men's volleyball program.

Scates, whose career record of 918-143 (.865) leads all collegiate volleyball coaches in all divisions, welcomes back five starters from last year's 24-5 team that came within two swings of winning its third straight national title.

Senior quick hitter Tom Stillwell, who has led the country in blocking two straight seasons, will be the captain of a team that has reached the NCAA Tournament finals five consecutive years and won five straight MPSF Mountain Division titles. Stillwell earned All-American honors as a member of the 1996 NCAA All-Tournament Team when the Bruins beat Hawaii, 3-2, in Pauley Pavilion to win their last national championship.

Sophomore setter Brandon Taliaferro, who earned 1997 AVCA Second Team All-American honors, set a UCLA freshman record by recording 1,707 set assists. Taliaferro, who broke the UCLA single match set assists record last season, also earned 1997 MPSF Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-MPSF honors.

Sophomore quick hitter Adam Naeve earned AVCA Second Team All-American honors and All-MPSF Third Team laurels. He slammed 344 kills last season and hit .403 in 28 matches.

Two other returning starters are outside hitters -- senior Ben Moselle, who is beginning his third season as a starter, and junior Fred Robins, who broke UCLA's single match digs record last season.

Redshirt sophomore Evan Tatcher will step in for three-time All-American Paul Nihipali, the all-time UCLA kills leader. Thatcher has led the Bruins throughout the preseason in road matches at Calgary, Seoul, Korea and Vancouver.

"We have more depth than last year," said Scates. "We have a lot of flexibility at outside hitter, quick hitter and opposite, so we won't have to use the same lineup every match like last year."

Probable Starters:
 #3 Brandon Tailaferro, 6-5, So., S, San Clemente, CA (1997 Asics/Volleyball Freshman of the Year)
 #9 Evan Thatcher, 6-8, So., Op, Encinitas, CA
#14 Fred Robins, 6-6, Jr., OH, Waimanalo, HI
#17 Tom Stillwell, 6-8, Sr., Q, Northridge, CA (1996 NCAA All-Tournament Team, two-time NCAA blocking leader)
#18 Adam Naeve, 6-10, So., Q, Westchester, CA (1997 Freshman All-American)
#20 Ben Moselle, 6-4, Sr., OH, Encinitas, CA 
Substitutions:
 #5 Mark Williams, 6-7, Fr., OH, Los Angeles, CA
#15 Danny Farmer, 6-4, Jr., Q, Los Angeles, CA
#19 Charlie Jackson, 6-0, Sr., S, Poway, CA