Bruins Stun No. 9 Cougars in Epic Fifth-Set Comeback

Friday, November 10

Pullman, WA

7:00 PM

UCLA

15-10,7-8Pac-12

Washington State

19-7,9-6Pac-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
UCLA	25	24	25	25	17	3
Washington St.	20	26	18	27	15	2

Iman Ndiaye (photo: Marie Goldfarb)

Photo by: Marie Goldfarb

Bruins Stun No. 9 Cougars in Epic Fifth-Set Comeback

November 11, 2023 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

PULLMAN, Wash. – Iman Ndiaye scored nine kills in an epic fifth-set comeback to lead the UCLA women's volleyball team to a 3-2 upset over No. 9 Washington State at Bohler Gym Friday night.

Set scores were 25-20, 24-26, 25-18, 25-27 and 17-15.

Tonight marked UCLA's first road victory over a top-10 opponent since Nov. 12, 2016 when it defeated then-No. 2 Stanford at Maples Pavilion.

The Bruins (15-10, 7-8) trailed the Cougars (19-7, 9-6) by as much as six points at 7-1 in the deciding fifth set. Ndiaye, the fifth-year senior from Dallas, Texas, chipped away at the lead with a stretch of six straight kills to bring UCLA within one, 13-12.

On the next play, an errant set by Audrey Pak put Washington State's first match point at the line. The senior setter quickly redeemed herself with three assists on consecutive plays to Anna Dodson, Grayce Olson and Ndiaye to bring the Bruins' third match point of the night to the service line at 15-14.

Following a kill by Cougar setter Argentina Ung, middle Desiree Becker answered with her seventh block of the match to bring the score to 15-all. Looking for the finishing blow again, Pak floated a perfect back set to Ndiaye who smashed the ball off Washington State's block and into the stands to seal what was head coach Alfee Reft's biggest win in his first year with the program. As a result of the victory, UCLA significantly boosts its NCAA Tournament candidacy.

Ndiaye totaled a season-high 21 kills at a .314 hitting percentage with four blocks to set a new career high in points with 24.0. It was the fourth 20-kill performance of her career and third of the season. Dodson established a career high in kills with 17 at an effective .577 clip to go along with five blocks. Joining the duo in double-figure kills were Cheridyn Leverette with 16 (.250%) and Becker with 11 (.474%). Pak surpassed her former career high in assists of 44 with 61 tonight. Libero Peyton Dueck achieved the 20-dig mark for the second time this year.

The Bruins set season highs in kills (74), assists (68), service aces (13) and digs (64). Eight total players saw an ace in their stat line. Leverette tallied four service aces while Pak and Peyton Dueck each added two apiece.

UCLA teetered with its first match point of the evening in the fourth set at 25-24 following a block by Ndiaye and Dodson. However, kills by Washington State's Katy Ryan and Pia Timmer shifted the momentum in favor of the Cougars. An ace by Julia Norville evened the match at two sets apiece.

Timmer scored a match-high 22 kills at .288.

A 6-0 run late in set three featuring four kills by Leverette and a block by Becker and Ndiaye put the frame out of reach at 23-16. Back row players Sydney Breon and Dueck each dealt a service ace down the stretch.

UCLA nearly pulled off a comeback earlier in the match in set two. Trailing 21-15, the Bruins clawed back to knot the score at 24-24. Two kills by Leverette, two blocks by Dodson and Pak and an ace from both Leverette and Dueck highlighted the 9-3 run. Washington State stalled the UCLA offense with a sideout kill by Iman Isanovic and a block on Pak.

Pak was on the defensive end of four block assists tonight. It was her eighth performance of at least 4.0 blocks this season. She ranks second among all Pac-12 setters in the statistical category.

The Bruins jumped on the Cougars early in set one, hitting for six kills on just eight swings to open with a 10-3 run. UCLA's star middles Dodson and Becker slammed home a combined seven kills.

This is UCLA's second victory over a ranked foe this season, including its 3-1 win over Hawai'i on Sept. 10.

UCLA closes the weekend Sunday, Nov. 12 versus Washington at Alaska Airlines Arena at 1 p.m. (PT). The match is available for viewing for free on Pac-12 Insider.