Wednesday, October 8
Minneapolis, MN
5:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
at
No. 14 Minnesota
Eliana Urzua
Photo by: Mac Brown
Volleyball Travels to No. 14 Minnesota Wednesday
October 07, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
UCLA (8-6, 2-2 Big Ten) at No. 14 Minnesota (13-2, 3-1 Big Ten)
Date/Time:ย Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5 p.m. (PT)
Location:ย Minneapolis, Minn. (Maturi Pavilion)
Watch:ย Big Ten Network
Talent:ย Sloane Martin (pxp); Meredith Nelson Uram (analyst)
Live Stats: gophersports.com/sidearmstats
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UCLA TRAVELS TO NO. 14 MINNESOTA
The UCLA women's volleyball team will gear up for a ranked matchup on the road at No. 14 Minnesota on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. (PT). The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network with Sloane Martin and Meredith Nelson Uram on the call.
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FIRST SERVE
UCLA women's volleyball dropped back-to-back home matches at Pauley Pavilion, first falling in a five-set heartbreaker to No. 13 Purdue after squandering four match points in set three, then losing in four sets to undefeated Indiana. Against Purdue, the Bruins surged to a 2-0 lead behind standout performances from Eliana Urzua (22 kills, 11 digs) and Kate Duffey (62 assists), but the Boilermakers rallied for a reverse sweep. Two nights later, UCLA again started strong, winning the first set versus Indiana with a .481 hitting clip, but the Hoosiers took control in the final three frames. Cheridyn Leverette led the Bruins with 21 kills, while Urzua posted her third straight double-double. Despite flashes of dominance, UCLA's inability to close late sets proved costly, dropping them to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play.
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EXCELLENT ELIANA
Eliana Urzua was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week after shining in UCLA's perfect Big Ten opening weekend, delivering back-to-back standout performances. In the opener, she led the Bruins with 20 kills on a blistering .381 hitting percentage, adding five digs and two blocks for 21 total points. She followed it up with a clutch 16-kill outing against No. 15 Penn State, securing her first career double-double with 14 digs and sealing the match with a well-placed tip. Urzua led the Bruins with a team-high 36 kills across the weekend, averaging 4.00 kills per set while hitting at an impressive .313 clip.
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SUPER SCHUMACHER
Lola Schumacher received Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after anchoring UCLA's back row with elite defensive play throughout the weekend, recording 21 digs in the opener and following it up with a UCLA-best 24 digs against No. 15 Penn State. She averaged 5.00 digs-per-set over the weekend.
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UCLA PICKED FIFTH
UCLA was picked to finish fifth out of 18 teams in the 2025 Big Ten Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll. In its first season as a Big Ten member, UCLA women's volleyball finished 14-15 overall and 8-12 in conference play. The Bruins recorded notable wins over No. 14 Georgia Tech, No. 24 Washington, and Ohio State, while pushing several ranked opponents to five sets, including reigning NCAA National Champion Penn State. Nebraska was picked as the conference favorite, followed by Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The Cornhuskers posted a regular season record of 33-3 and finished atop the Big Ten standings with a 19-1 mark in conference play. Four Bruins earned spots on the 20-member Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team, tying Nebraska for the most selections in the league. Outside hitters Cheridyn Leverette and Maggie Li joined middle blockers Marianna Singletary and Phekran Kong in receiving the preseason honors.
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Date/Time:ย Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5 p.m. (PT)
Location:ย Minneapolis, Minn. (Maturi Pavilion)
Watch:ย Big Ten Network
Talent:ย Sloane Martin (pxp); Meredith Nelson Uram (analyst)
Live Stats: gophersports.com/sidearmstats
ย
UCLA TRAVELS TO NO. 14 MINNESOTA
The UCLA women's volleyball team will gear up for a ranked matchup on the road at No. 14 Minnesota on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. (PT). The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network with Sloane Martin and Meredith Nelson Uram on the call.
ย
FIRST SERVE
- Following UCLA's wins over Ohio State and No. 15 Penn State Eliana Urzua was named Freshman of the Week
- Lola Schumacher was named Defensive Player of the Week following the that perfect 2-0 week
- Cheridyn Leverette leads the team in scoring with 3.77 points-per-set and 3.48 kills-per-set
- Leverette has racked up 20+ kills in two of the last three matches
- Urzua has recorded three consecutive double-doubles
- UCLA has dropped two straight contests, falling to No. 13 Purdue in five sets and Indiana in four
- 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 were named to the Sun City Classic All-Tournament Team
- Freshman Eliana Urzua has made an immediate impact, notching three 20+ kill performances, three straight double-doubles, and is UCLA's second-leading scorer at 3.31 points-per-set
- Lola Schumacher leads the Big Ten in digs-per-set (4.20)
- Carly Hendrickson has emerged as one of UCLA's most important players in her return from injury with a team-best 14 service aces
- UCLA was ranked No. 18 in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll
- UCLA posted an overall record of 14-15 (8-12 Big Ten) in its inaugural season in the Big Ten
- The Bruins finished tied for 10th in the conference standings, sharing the spot with Michigan and Indiana with an 8-12 record
- In 2024, UCLA went 1-5 in five-set matches, including defeats to No. 12 Minnesota, No. 16 USC, No. 3 Penn State, and No. 10 Purdue
- The Bruins prevailed in a five-set thriller in 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 (five transfers, five freshmen) for the 2025 season
- Head Coach Alfee Reft enters his third season at the helm
- Nick Vogel joined Coach Reft's coaching staff in the summer. Vogel spent three seasons as the head assistant for the UCLA men's volleyball program
- Junior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette garnered Honorable Mention AVCA All-American acclaim after her stellar campaign
- Leverette leads the Bruins in points (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 just the fifth Bruin in the 25-point rally scoring era (2008-present) to achieve that feat
- Leverette ranked sixth in the conference in kills-per-set (4.14) and 10th in total kills (435)
- Five transfers bolster Alfee Reft's 2025 squad, including Maggie Li (Cal), Phekran Kong (Louisville), Zayna Meyer (Long Beach State), Marianna Singletary (Texas), and Lola Schumacher (Wisconsin)
UCLA women's volleyball dropped back-to-back home matches at Pauley Pavilion, first falling in a five-set heartbreaker to No. 13 Purdue after squandering four match points in set three, then losing in four sets to undefeated Indiana. Against Purdue, the Bruins surged to a 2-0 lead behind standout performances from Eliana Urzua (22 kills, 11 digs) and Kate Duffey (62 assists), but the Boilermakers rallied for a reverse sweep. Two nights later, UCLA again started strong, winning the first set versus Indiana with a .481 hitting clip, but the Hoosiers took control in the final three frames. Cheridyn Leverette led the Bruins with 21 kills, while Urzua posted her third straight double-double. Despite flashes of dominance, UCLA's inability to close late sets proved costly, dropping them to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play.
ย
EXCELLENT ELIANA
Eliana Urzua was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week after shining in UCLA's perfect Big Ten opening weekend, delivering back-to-back standout performances. In the opener, she led the Bruins with 20 kills on a blistering .381 hitting percentage, adding five digs and two blocks for 21 total points. She followed it up with a clutch 16-kill outing against No. 15 Penn State, securing her first career double-double with 14 digs and sealing the match with a well-placed tip. Urzua led the Bruins with a team-high 36 kills across the weekend, averaging 4.00 kills per set while hitting at an impressive .313 clip.
ย
SUPER SCHUMACHER
Lola Schumacher received Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after anchoring UCLA's back row with elite defensive play throughout the weekend, recording 21 digs in the opener and following it up with a UCLA-best 24 digs against No. 15 Penn State. She averaged 5.00 digs-per-set over the weekend.
ย
UCLA PICKED FIFTH
UCLA was picked to finish fifth out of 18 teams in the 2025 Big Ten Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll. In its first season as a Big Ten member, UCLA women's volleyball finished 14-15 overall and 8-12 in conference play. The Bruins recorded notable wins over No. 14 Georgia Tech, No. 24 Washington, and Ohio State, while pushing several ranked opponents to five sets, including reigning NCAA National Champion Penn State. Nebraska was picked as the conference favorite, followed by Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The Cornhuskers posted a regular season record of 33-3 and finished atop the Big Ten standings with a 19-1 mark in conference play. Four Bruins earned spots on the 20-member Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team, tying Nebraska for the most selections in the league. Outside hitters Cheridyn Leverette and Maggie Li joined middle blockers Marianna Singletary and Phekran Kong in receiving the preseason honors.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's VolleyballHighlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. USC (Oct. 11, 2025)
Saturday, October 11
Highlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. Minnesota (Oct. 8, 2025)
Wednesday, October 08
Highlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. Penn State (Sept. 28, 2025)
Sunday, September 28
Highlights - W. Volleyball at Ohio State (Sept. 26, 2025)
Saturday, September 27