UCLA VOLLEYBALL: GEORGE'S LEADERSHIP EXTENDS TO THE COURT EX-CHATSWORTH HIGH STANDOUT NO LONGER JUST A VOCAL LEADER FOR FINAL FOUR TEAM.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

When he was a senior at Chatsworth High, Paul George led the Chancellors to the City Section volleyball title. The whole team bought championship rings, except for George.

The rings were a couple hundred dollars. His parents didn't want to spend the money, and he didn't fight them on it.

"I think I was the only guy on the team who didn't buy one," George said. "My teammates gave me a lot of crap. I told them I would get my ring at UCLA."

George is close to fulfilling his promise. The redshirt junior outside hitter has the Bruins in the NCAA semifinals today at Penn State against Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne.

George, in his first season as a starter for UCLA, is second on the Bruins in kills, and has stepped up his game in the Bruins' past two matches, tying for the team lead with 16 kills in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinals against Pepperdine and leading the team with 16 more against Long Beach State in the MPSF championship.

"He's really peaking right now," UCLA coach Al Scates said of George. "He's playing the best ball he's ever played. He's a big-game player. We have a lot of people on the team taking charge, and Paul is at the forefront."

Entering the season, George had only seen the court 11 times in his career. This year, he has started in all 36 matches.

When George chose UCLA, he knew that he would have to wait his turn. The Bruins have the top men's volleyball program in NCAA history with 18 titles.

"Realistically, he's been trying out for three years," Chatsworth coach Greg Saltzberg said. "I think it speaks volumes about his character that he never gave up. I think a lot of people in his shoes would have said, `At least I got here. No big deal.' But he worked his tail off and look where he is now."

Dating to George's senior year, Chatsworth has won four consecutive City titles. Saltzberg calls George the first piece of the puzzle for the program's success.

Even when he wasn't playing at UCLA, George would make an impact with his support from the bench. He has been known to lose his voice during a match.

He's still vocal, but now it is as the leader on the court.

"Emotionally, I try to carry the team," George said. "When it gets quiet out there on the court is when we start playing poorly. John Wooden would tell you to be the champ, you got to play the best when needed. I've always been a pressure player."

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Photo:

UCLA's Paul George, center, helped the Bruins win the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and reach the NCAA semifinals.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

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NCAA MEN'S SEMIFINALS