Wednesday, February 26
Los Angeles, CA
7 p.m. PT
UCLA
9-3,0-0MPSF
3
vs
1
No. 16 UC Santa Barbara
8-7,0-0Big West
1
2
3
4
F
UC Santa Barbara
18
25
24
21
1
UCLA
25
21
26
25
3
No. 2 UCLA Men's Volleyball Drops No. 16 UCSB, 3-1
February 26, 2025 | Men's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES – The No. 2 UCLA men's volleyball team earned a four-set win over No. 16 UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday night. Set scores were 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, and 25-21.
Zach Rama led the way for UCLA (9-3) offensively on Wednesday, finishing with 14 kills on 25 attempts to hit .440, while Cooper Robinson added 13 kills and Thorne chipped in with seven kills on nine attempts.
Defensively, the Bruins limited the Gauchos (8-7) to just .222 hitting for the match.
The Bruins opened up a 9-4 advantage courtesy of a Rama kill. UCLA then extended its advantage to 12-7 with Thorne earning a solo block to put the Bruins up five.
Rowan, Rama, and Robinson then combined to put the Bruins up 14-8, before Robinson tallied his second kill of the set to put UCLA up 22-17.
UCLA took the first set 25-18 with Thorne hammering home the kill as the Bruins took a 1-0 set lead heading to the second set.
In the second set the Gauchos responded taking a 4-0 early lead before extending the lead to 11-4 courtesy of two service aces from Ben Coordt.
The Bruins would chip away at the Gauchos lead and eventually got within two points courtesy of a Thorne and David block, and the Gauchos led the set 22-20. Unfortunately for UCLA, the Gauchos were able to hold on and took the second set 25-21, tying the match at 1-1.
In the third set UCLA opened up a 3-0 advantage to begin the set, as Robinson slammed home his sixth kill of the match. After then taking a 6-3 lead the Gauchos responded to take a 12-9 advantage.
UCLA utilized a 3-0 run to tie the set at 12-12, with a Robinson ace surrounded by two Rama kills to tie the set.
A Rowan dump and a Kahale Clini service ace re-tied the set at 17-17. Rowan then unleashed a huge serve to put the Bruins up 19-18.
The two sides traded points and the Bruins took a 25-24 lead courtesy of another Rama kill before David whipped a service ace to take the set 26-24, and took a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth set.
UCLA opened up an 11-8 advantage in the fourth set, before Rowan then added his third ace of the evening to put UCLA up 21-16 and firmly in control of the set. A few points later UCLA forced a UCSB service error and the Bruins took the set 25-21, and the match 3-1.
Up Next: The Bruins head to Santa Barbara, California, for the return leg against the Gauchos. First serve is set for 7 pm PT.
Zach Rama led the way for UCLA (9-3) offensively on Wednesday, finishing with 14 kills on 25 attempts to hit .440, while Cooper Robinson added 13 kills and Thorne chipped in with seven kills on nine attempts.
Defensively, the Bruins limited the Gauchos (8-7) to just .222 hitting for the match.
The Bruins opened up a 9-4 advantage courtesy of a Rama kill. UCLA then extended its advantage to 12-7 with Thorne earning a solo block to put the Bruins up five.
Rowan, Rama, and Robinson then combined to put the Bruins up 14-8, before Robinson tallied his second kill of the set to put UCLA up 22-17.
UCLA took the first set 25-18 with Thorne hammering home the kill as the Bruins took a 1-0 set lead heading to the second set.
In the second set the Gauchos responded taking a 4-0 early lead before extending the lead to 11-4 courtesy of two service aces from Ben Coordt.
The Bruins would chip away at the Gauchos lead and eventually got within two points courtesy of a Thorne and David block, and the Gauchos led the set 22-20. Unfortunately for UCLA, the Gauchos were able to hold on and took the second set 25-21, tying the match at 1-1.
In the third set UCLA opened up a 3-0 advantage to begin the set, as Robinson slammed home his sixth kill of the match. After then taking a 6-3 lead the Gauchos responded to take a 12-9 advantage.
UCLA utilized a 3-0 run to tie the set at 12-12, with a Robinson ace surrounded by two Rama kills to tie the set.
A Rowan dump and a Kahale Clini service ace re-tied the set at 17-17. Rowan then unleashed a huge serve to put the Bruins up 19-18.
The two sides traded points and the Bruins took a 25-24 lead courtesy of another Rama kill before David whipped a service ace to take the set 26-24, and took a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth set.
UCLA opened up an 11-8 advantage in the fourth set, before Rowan then added his third ace of the evening to put UCLA up 21-16 and firmly in control of the set. A few points later UCLA forced a UCSB service error and the Bruins took the set 25-21, and the match 3-1.
Up Next: The Bruins head to Santa Barbara, California, for the return leg against the Gauchos. First serve is set for 7 pm PT.
Team Stats
UCSB
UCLA
Kills
42
41
Errors
22
18
Attempts
90
97
Hitting %
.222
.237
Points
51.5
59.5
Assists
40
37
Aces
5
9
Blocks
4.5
9.5
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
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