Senior outside hitter/opposite Ido David holds the ball out as he prepares to serve. The 2023 AVCA First Team All-American has notched 126 service aces in his four-year UCLA career. (Edward Ho/Daily Bruin)
This post was updated April 29 at 10:30 p.m.
The service line often drives success in volleyball.
It can make or break a set, match or even a season.
This post was updated April 27 at 11:39 p.m.
Second chances are few and far between.
But on the off chance they present themselves, they are an opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up.
Despite losing out on an automatic bid given to the MPSF conference winner after falling 3-2 in the semifinals to tournament host Pepperdine (20-9, 7-5 MPSF), UCLA men’s volleyball (20-6, 10-2) earned the second and final at-large bid as the No.
The reigning back-to-back national champions, ironically, have not found the same success at the conference level.
Despite leading the nation with 21 NCAA titles, the Bruins have clinched just eight MPSF championships, winning only two in the last 20 years and most recently falling to Grand Canyon in the 2024 title game.
No. 1 seed UCLA men’s volleyball’s (20-5, 10-2 MPSF) first round bye propels itself directly into Friday’s MPSF semifinal match against No. 4 seed and tournament host Pepperdine.
This post was updated April 24 at 10:57 p.m.
No. 2 UCLA men’s volleyball (20-5, 10-2 MPSF) dropped its regular season finale in sweeping fashion to No.
As Zach Rama stepped up to the service line, the junior outside hitter was bombarded with a cacophony of screams and taunts.
But this wasn’t a match-clinching point.
A sea of eyes watched the court.
Each gaze seemed fixed toward Cooper Robinson.
But the redshirt junior’s eyes were trained on someone else.
Former Bruin teammate Merrick McHenry – with the national championship ring he earned alongside the outside hitter last year glinting on his finger – gesticulated emphatically with his hands at Robinson from the sidelines, urging him on with some advice.
No. 2 UCLA men’s volleyball (19-4, 9-1 MPSF) will have a chance to extend its seven-game win streak in the Battle for LA against No. 5 USC (19-5, 7-3 MPSF) on Thursday at Pauley Pavilion – which is also senior night – and Saturday evening at the Galen Center.
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