UCLA Opens Big Ten Play at Ohio State, Penn State

Game 1

UCLA (6-4) at Ohio State (3-5)

Date/Time: Friday, Sept. 26, 3 p.m. (PT)
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Covelli Center)
Watch: B1G+
Live Stats: ohiostatestats.com

Game 2

UCLA (6-4) at No. 15 Penn State (6-4)

Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. (PT)
Location: University Park, Penn. (Rec Hall)
Watch: Big Ten Network
Talent: Jason Knapp (pxp); Mac Podraza (analyst)
Live Stats: pennstate.statbroadcast.com

UCLA OPENS BIG TEN PLAY AT OHIO STATE, PENN STATE
The UCLA ladies’s volleyball workforce begins its Big Ten Conference marketing campaign with two highway video games at Ohio State and Penn State. The Bruins will tackle the Buckeyes within the league opener on Friday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. (PT). UCLA will then face off in opposition to the reigning National Champions, Penn State, on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. (PT). Friday’s contest might be out there for viewing on B1G+ whereas Sunday’s match might be featured on Big Ten Network.

FIRST SERVE

• UCLA has received 5 of its final six contests
• The Bruins posted a 6-4 report throughout nonconference play.
• Cheridyn Leverette leads the workforce in scoring with 4.08 points-per-set and three.64 kills-per-set
• Leverette was named the Most Valuable Player of the Sun City Classic
• Phekran Kong knocked down a team-high 12 kills (.450) in her UCLA debut on Sept. 20
• Marianna Singletary and Kate Duffey had been named to the Sun City Classic All-Tournament Team
• Freshman Eliana Urzua has made a direct impression, notching double-digit kills in three of her first 10 matches
• Urzua is the workforce’s second main scorer with 2.92 points-per-set
• Lola Schumacher leads the Big Ten in digs-per-set (4.00)
• Carly Hendrickson has emerged as one in every of UCLA’s most essential gamers in her return from harm, averaging 1.98 points-per-set (.215), 0.58 blocks-per-set, and a team-best 11 service aces.
• UCLA was ranked No. 18 within the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll
• UCLA posted an total report of 14-15 (8-12 Big Ten) in its inaugural season within the Big Ten
• The Bruins completed tied for tenth within the convention standings, sharing the spot with Michigan and Indiana with an 8-12 report
• In 2024, UCLA went 1-5 in five-set matches, together with defeats to No. 12 Minnesota, No. 16 USC, No. 3 Penn State, and No. 10 Purdue
• The Bruins prevailed in a five-set thriller within the season-opener at Long Beach State
• The season-opening win marked UCLA’s first five-set win since its 2024 season opener
• UCLA welcomes 10 newcomers (5 transfers, 5 freshmen) for the 2025 season
• Head Coach Alfee Reft enters his third season on the helm
• Nick Vogel joined Coach Reft’s teaching workers in the summertime. Vogel spent three seasons as the top assistant for the UCLA males’s volleyball program
• Junior outdoors hitter Cheridyn Leverette garnered Honorable Mention AVCA All-American acclaim after her stellar marketing campaign
• Leverette leads the Bruins in factors (464), kills (435), points-per-set (4.43), and kills-per-set (4.14)
• Leverette achieved double-digit kills in 20 consecutive matches from Aug. 30 to Nov. 2. She is simply the fifth Bruin within the 25-point rally scoring period (2008-present) to attain that feat
• Leverette ranked sixth within the convention in kills-per-set (4.14) and tenth in whole kills (435)
• Five transfers bolster Alfee Reft‘s 2025 squad, together with Maggie Li (Cal), Phekran Kong (Louisville), Zayna Meyer (Long Beach State), Marianna Singletary (Texas), and Lola Schumacher (Wisconsin)
• Kiki Horne and Kate Reilly had been the one Bruins to look in each match in 2024

LAST TIME OUT
UCLA wrapped up its weekend on the Stanford Tournament with two robust wins and a hard-fought loss. The Bruins opened with a four-set victory over Texas State, fueled by freshman Eliana Urzua’s career-best 20 kills and a balanced workforce effort that included standout performances from Carly Hendrickson, Marianna Singletary, and setter Kate Duffey. They adopted with a dominant sweep of Hawaii, highlighted by Phekran Kong’s spectacular debut (12 kills, .450 hitting) and continued defensive excellence from Lola Schumacher and Brooklyn Briscoe. In their finale, UCLA handed No. 4 Stanford its first set loss in 5 matches, however in the end fell in 4 units regardless of double-digit kills from Cheridyn Leverette and robust blocking from Singletary. The Bruins concluded the event 6-4 total.

FIRST SET IS KEY

UCLA boasts an ideal 5-0 report this season when securing the primary set. Of these 5 victories, 4 had been achieved in straight units, whereas one prolonged to a four-set contest in opposition to Texas State. Additionally, the Bruins maintain a 6-1 report when profitable the third set and stay undefeated (4-0) when reaching a hitting share above .300.

 

EXCELLENT ELIANA

Eliana Urzua powered UCLA to back-to-back sweeps of their closing weekend of nonconference play, delivering a team-high 38 kills whereas hitting at an environment friendly .311 clip. The standout freshman averaged 3.45 kills per set and contributed on either side of the ball, including 18 digs and 7 blocks to her stat line. Urzua’s breakout efficiency got here in opposition to Texas State, the place she erupted for a career-best 20 kills on a blistering .405 hitting share. She additionally anchored the protection with six digs and 4 blocks.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT

Phekran Kong made her UCLA debut in opposition to Hawaii on Sept. 20 and delivered rapid contributions, ending with a team-high 12 kills at a particularly environment friendly hitting share of .405. She adopted that up by tallying 9 kills and 5 blocks within the following match in opposition to No. 4 Stanford. Through two video games, Kong is averaging 3.79 points-per-set and hitting a team-best .317.

 

UCLA PICKED FIFTH

UCLA was picked to complete fifth out of 18 groups within the 2025 Big Ten Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll. In its first season as a Big Ten member, UCLA ladies’s volleyball completed 14-15 total and 8-12 in convention play. The Bruins recorded notable wins over No. 14 Georgia Tech, No. 24 Washington, and Ohio State, whereas pushing a number of ranked opponents to 5 units, together with reigning NCAA National Champion Penn State. Nebraska was picked because the convention favourite, adopted by Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The Cornhuskers posted a daily season report of 33-3 and completed atop the Big Ten standings with a 19-1 mark in convention play. Four Bruins earned spots on the 20-member Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team, tying Nebraska for essentially the most alternatives within the league. Outside hitters Cheridyn Leverette and Maggie Li joined center blockers Marianna Singletary and Phekran Kong in receiving the preseason honors.