UCLA men’s volleyball players celebrate together in a huddle. (Crystal Tompkins/Daily Bruin senior staff)
Being at the top comes with expectations.
But with the postseason around the corner, the job is far from finished.
And for many Bruins, this season is their last chance to hoist a title.
A dominant season met a moment rooted in emotion.
No. 1 UCLA beach volleyball (26-4) sent off its seniors with a 5-0 sweep against Cal State Bakersfield (10-22) on Tuesday at Mapes Beach.
A baker refines a recipe.
An engineer designs hundreds of models.
A collegiate gymnast practices on beam over and over again.
All of them in pursuit of one thing: perfection.
For many competitors, coming up short only strengthens the desire to win.
One year after a second-place finish in the 2025 NCAA Championship, the Bruins have an opportunity to one-up themselves and their competition.
The regular season may be coming to an end, but questions about what the star-studded Bruin lineup will look like next year are only beginning.
With the departure of a crucial senior core, coach John Hawks will need the right pieces to step up and replicate their elite production.
Oklahoma
Ranking: No. 1 seed
Strength: Vault
Weakness: Bars
X-Factor: Addison Fatta
Oklahoma is dominant.
The Sooners were the No. 1 squad in the nation for nine weeks in a row during the regular season, owning an NQS of 197.980 and top-five rankings on every event.
“Returners” are a prized possession in today’s NCAA landscape.
With the increasing popularity of the transfer portal and the seemingly constant coaching carousels that define college football, sustaining continuity is a tall task.
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