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Story 80
2023 Men's NCAA Volleyball National Championship Game: UCLA vs Hawaii
The UCLA Men's Volleyball Team celebrating beating Hawaii, 3-1 sets, to win their 20th National Volleyball Championship title. Last time they won a National Championship was in 2006.
Photo Credit & Copyright: BURG Sports Network/Michael Ferrara
Post-game interviews with the National Champions - UCLA Mens Volleyball Head Coach, John Speraw, and players
Question : When that confetti came down that moment with your players to dogpile?
What are you guys going to remember about that big celebration?
Alex Kight's Answer : It's been a dream of mine since I was a zoom as I can remember. My whole family is a Bruin family and I've always said I want to come to UCLA and win a championship and be a part of the culture of excellence that UCLA has and so not a lot was going through my mind other than just raw emotion and happiness for the program for all the people that have put in the work and not just for our team but for the staff and I was thinking about coming back home and celebrations and what that's going to be like and I'm just super, super happy.
J.R Norris IV Answer : Yeah, I'm in the same boat. Just raw emotion. I can't wait to get back and celebrate was one with all of athletics. It's gonna be fun.
Question : And my last question for the players. Talk about the senior class what they meant for you and the guy in the middle. Your coach, what does Coach meant to you guys?
Alex Knight's Answer : Our senior class sets the example. They've affected the cultural on this team. I mean, all four of them have had different roles throughout their time in college. But they stayed super steady their entire career and you know, people show up in moments you might not expect and so yeah, super happy for them. They get to go out on this when Troy Gucci transferred super happy for him Kyle
sorry. Yeah, and then for coach I mean, we know what it means to him. We see the emotion every single day brings to practice and how much he wants it so yeah, super happy. We can get it done for him in this program and all the alumni as well.
J.R Norris IV Answer : Yeah. Follow them that the senior class. It's a really close knit group. I feel like I just have friends for a lifetime. It's almost like we're all family. For the coaching staff. They've all just been like uncles, older cousins.
Question : And then my last one is for coach Coach. I've been limited DNV For years I had never watched West Coast volleyball. I'm very impressed for the people in the DMV to see you guys come across the country to watch you guys play. Does that do you think make a bigger impact on the sport of men's volleyball? And my second part of my question is being an alum. Did you ever dream that this was whatever happened, you know, winning the place where you went to?
Head Coach John Speraw Answer : the ladder first and yeah, that drove a lot in some respects, invitation to do so but certainly lots of dreams. Lots of thoughts have been close a couple times. Absolutely. There was anything we all ever thought about in terms of this potential moment might grow the game and we certainly hope we know that there's growth on the east coast to the youth level and so we so those kids are here Delaware just sanctioned the State State High School Championship recently so I know that it's happening around here. And so I hope they're here out they love to help they start playing the game and they start getting engaged and playing high school football and well we we know it's growing. It's the fastest growing boys sport in America has been for 10 years.
And we want to continue that momentum and nights like this can certainly help.
John you want to watch championships but this one is a little different view as
you've done with your family was that your family's here and they will enjoy it with you.
Post-game interviews with the Hawaii Mens Volleyball
Head Coach, Charlie Wade, and players
Dimitrios Mouchlias had a total of 11 kills, 2 block assists, and scored a total of 20 points in the game.
Photo Credit & Copyright: BURG Sports Network Owner/Michael Ferrara
Question : I know this isn't the way you want to go out but the impact of seniors had made for you not just players but as young man. What are you going to remember most about this group and for the future?
What are you most excited about?
Head Coach Charlie Wade Answer : Well, in terms of the guys, I mean, just the resiliency and just the dedication to make to become better and everything in our life. We talk a lot about our lives are different. You know, we live in the most isolated place on earth and there's lots of challenges that come with it. And we've talked about, you know, we asked a lot of them, we expect a lot of them in the classroom, in the weight room in the practice gym, and they really have met every one of those requests head on and they on a daily basis. They, you know, we we've continued to kind of build the culture that started several years ago with guys working and these guys learn from the people before them and and have just keep improving the culture and I think they've done a great job to to mentor the young guys in our program and really have put us in a great place going forward.
No company he wants to know the way these two teams went after it tonight. Because it kind of heighten your appreciation of what you're able to do the last two years just knowing how difficult it is to win back to back champions.
We respect every team and UCLA. They're a great team with a great coaching staff and great players. And, yeah, we just tried our best, you know, sport is you don't always win. Sometimes you lose, positive and yeah, today was it was days for us. Yeah, we're probably the person that's been bugging me.
Of course, there's other people who make place in the lineup in but personally, that is to
Interview & Written by BURG Sports Network Owner Michael Ferrara
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