Wednesday, November 26
Ann Arbor, MI
4:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
17-12,11-8Big Ten
3
at
2
Michigan
21-9,11-8Big Ten
1
2
3
4
5
F
UCLA
25
16
13
25
15
3
Michigan
15
25
25
22
7
2
Cheridyn Leverette
Photo by: UCLA Athletics
Leverette’s 25 Kills Power UCLA Past Michigan in Five-Set Comeback
November 26, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Senior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette delivered a season-high 25 kills to spearhead UCLA women's volleyball's dramatic five-set comeback victory over Michigan on Wednesday night at Cliff Keen Arena.
Set scores were 25-15, 16-25, 13-25, 25-22, 15-7.
UCLA (17–12, 11–8 Big Ten) rallied from a 2–1 deficit to secure a critical victory in the closing stages of the season, strengthening its case for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins leaned on a dominant performance from Leverette, who hammered a season-high 25 kills on an efficient .353 hitting percentage, including 11 during UCLA's fourth-set comeback.
The win improved UCLA's record to 5-1 in five-set matches this year.
Freshman Eliana Urzua, making her first start since Oct. 22, provided an immediate spark with 14 kills at a .423 clip. Marianna Singletary joined her in double figures with 10 kills, adding three blocks and two aces to round out a strong all-around effort.
Setter Kate Duffey orchestrated the offense with her ninth double-double of the season, dishing out 50 assists and collecting 13 digs. At libero, Lola Schumacher continued her steady play with 20 digs and five assists.
UCLA stormed out to a 6-0 lead in the decisive fifth set, fueled by two blocks, an ace from Duffey, and Leverette's 22nd kill of the night. Michigan answered with a 4-0 run to force a Bruin timeout, but Leverette stopped the surge with a side-out kill that restored a 7-4 cushion. A Wolverine service error gave UCLA an 8-5 edge at the side switch, and the Bruins quickly extended the margin with a Brooklyn Briscoe solo block, a Carly Hendrickson ace, and an Urzua kill to make it 11-5. Fittingly, Leverette hammered down her 25th kill on match point to cap UCLA's dramatic comeback and secure the victory.
UCLA raced out to a 5–2 lead behind a kill and ace from Leverette, who converted three of her first four swings. Urzua added four kills on five attempts to help the Bruins build a 15-10 cushion at the first media timeout. Singletary then delivered her second ace of the set, sparking a momentum-swinging 6-0 run with her at the service line that stretched the margin to 20-10. The Bruins hit .407 and tallied three aces to cruise to a 25-15 opening-set win. Urzua shined in her return to the starting lineup, finishing the frame with five kills on seven swings.
Michigan opened the second set with a quick 4-1 lead before Leverette's back-to-back kills trimmed the deficit to 11-8. The Wolverines pushed ahead at the media timeout, 15-10, and a four-point surge later stretched the margin to 21-12. Michigan closed out the frame, 25-16, to level the match at one set apiece. The Bruins struggled offensively, hitting just .107, while the hosts were efficient at .355.
Michigan surged ahead 8-3 in the third set and extended the margin to 11-5, prompting a UCLA timeout. The Wolverines followed with a 4-0 run to push the lead to 13-5, then strung together another burst to make it 20-10. Behind a blistering .480 hitting percentage, Michigan closed out the frame 25-13 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Michigan opened the fourth set with a 3-0 run, but UCLA answered by taking seven of the next nine points to move ahead 7-5. The Wolverines responded with a quick spurt to reclaim an 8-7 edge and later held a 15-11 advantage at the media timeout. The Bruins battled back, using a 6-0 run that was fueled by a successful challenge from head coach Alfee Reft at 19-19. Singletary delivered a powerful kill to bring up set point, and Urzua capitalized on an overpass to seal it. UCLA completed the comeback with a 25–22 win to force a decisive fifth set, powered by Leverette's 11-kill performance.
The Bruins head to Michigan State on Friday Nov. 28 for the regular season finale at 10 a.m. (PT). The contest will be streamed live on B1G+.
Set scores were 25-15, 16-25, 13-25, 25-22, 15-7.
UCLA (17–12, 11–8 Big Ten) rallied from a 2–1 deficit to secure a critical victory in the closing stages of the season, strengthening its case for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins leaned on a dominant performance from Leverette, who hammered a season-high 25 kills on an efficient .353 hitting percentage, including 11 during UCLA's fourth-set comeback.
The win improved UCLA's record to 5-1 in five-set matches this year.
Freshman Eliana Urzua, making her first start since Oct. 22, provided an immediate spark with 14 kills at a .423 clip. Marianna Singletary joined her in double figures with 10 kills, adding three blocks and two aces to round out a strong all-around effort.
Setter Kate Duffey orchestrated the offense with her ninth double-double of the season, dishing out 50 assists and collecting 13 digs. At libero, Lola Schumacher continued her steady play with 20 digs and five assists.
UCLA stormed out to a 6-0 lead in the decisive fifth set, fueled by two blocks, an ace from Duffey, and Leverette's 22nd kill of the night. Michigan answered with a 4-0 run to force a Bruin timeout, but Leverette stopped the surge with a side-out kill that restored a 7-4 cushion. A Wolverine service error gave UCLA an 8-5 edge at the side switch, and the Bruins quickly extended the margin with a Brooklyn Briscoe solo block, a Carly Hendrickson ace, and an Urzua kill to make it 11-5. Fittingly, Leverette hammered down her 25th kill on match point to cap UCLA's dramatic comeback and secure the victory.
UCLA raced out to a 5–2 lead behind a kill and ace from Leverette, who converted three of her first four swings. Urzua added four kills on five attempts to help the Bruins build a 15-10 cushion at the first media timeout. Singletary then delivered her second ace of the set, sparking a momentum-swinging 6-0 run with her at the service line that stretched the margin to 20-10. The Bruins hit .407 and tallied three aces to cruise to a 25-15 opening-set win. Urzua shined in her return to the starting lineup, finishing the frame with five kills on seven swings.
Michigan opened the second set with a quick 4-1 lead before Leverette's back-to-back kills trimmed the deficit to 11-8. The Wolverines pushed ahead at the media timeout, 15-10, and a four-point surge later stretched the margin to 21-12. Michigan closed out the frame, 25-16, to level the match at one set apiece. The Bruins struggled offensively, hitting just .107, while the hosts were efficient at .355.
Michigan surged ahead 8-3 in the third set and extended the margin to 11-5, prompting a UCLA timeout. The Wolverines followed with a 4-0 run to push the lead to 13-5, then strung together another burst to make it 20-10. Behind a blistering .480 hitting percentage, Michigan closed out the frame 25-13 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Michigan opened the fourth set with a 3-0 run, but UCLA answered by taking seven of the next nine points to move ahead 7-5. The Wolverines responded with a quick spurt to reclaim an 8-7 edge and later held a 15-11 advantage at the media timeout. The Bruins battled back, using a 6-0 run that was fueled by a successful challenge from head coach Alfee Reft at 19-19. Singletary delivered a powerful kill to bring up set point, and Urzua capitalized on an overpass to seal it. UCLA completed the comeback with a 25–22 win to force a decisive fifth set, powered by Leverette's 11-kill performance.
The Bruins head to Michigan State on Friday Nov. 28 for the regular season finale at 10 a.m. (PT). The contest will be streamed live on B1G+.
Team Stats
UCLA
Mich
Kills
61
55
Errors
25
16
Attempts
141
144
Hitting %
.255
.271
Points
73.0
74.0
Assists
58
48
Aces
6
7
Blocks
6
12
Game Leaders
Kills
25
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
10
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballHighlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. Michigan (Nov. 26, 2025)
Wednesday, November 26
Highlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. Illinois (Nov. 20, 2025)
Thursday, November 20
Highlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. Rutgers (Nov. 15, 2025)
Saturday, November 15
Highlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. Northwestern (Nov. 8, 2025)
Saturday, November 08