Friday, September 26
Columbus, OH
3:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
at
Ohio State
Lola Schumacher
Photo by: TCU Athletics
UCLA Opens Big Ten Play at Ohio State, Penn State
September 24, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
Game 1
UCLA (6-4) at Ohio State (3-5)
Date/Time:ย Friday, Sept. 26, 3 p.m. (PT)
Location:ย Columbus, Ohio (Covelli Center)
Watch:ย B1G+
Live Stats:ย ohiostatestats.com
ย
Game 2
UCLA (6-4) at No. 15 Penn State (6-4)
Date/Time:ย Sunday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. (PT)
Location:ย University Park, Penn. (Rec Hall)
Watch:ย Big Ten Network
Talent:ย Jason Knapp (pxp); Mac Podraza (analyst)
Live Stats:ย pennstate.statbroadcast.com
ย
UCLA OPENS BIG TEN PLAY AT OHIO STATE, PENN STATE
The UCLA women's volleyball team begins its Big Ten Conference campaign with two road games at Ohio State and Penn State. The Bruins will take on the Buckeyes in the league opener on Friday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. (PT). UCLA will then face off against the reigning National Champions, Penn State, on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. (PT). Friday's contest will be available for viewing on B1G+ while Sunday's match will be featured on Big Ten Network.
ย
FIRST SERVE
LAST TIME OUT
UCLA wrapped up its weekend at the Stanford Tournament with two strong wins and a hard-fought loss. The Bruins opened with a four-set victory over Texas State, fueled by freshman Eliana Urzua's career-best 20 kills and a balanced team effort that included standout performances from Carly Hendrickson, Marianna Singletary, and setter Kate Duffey. They followed with a dominant sweep of Hawaii, highlighted by Phekran Kong's impressive debut (12 kills, .450 hitting) and continued defensive excellence from Lola Schumacher and Brooklyn Briscoe. In their finale, UCLA handed No. 4 Stanford its first set loss in five matches, but ultimately fell in four sets despite double-digit kills from Cheridyn Leverette and strong blocking from Singletary. The Bruins concluded the tournament 6-4 overall.
FIRST SET IS KEY
UCLA boasts a perfect 5-0 record this season when securing the first set. Of these five victories, four were achieved in straight sets, while one extended to a four-set contest against Texas State. Additionally, the Bruins hold a 6-1 record when winning the third set and remain undefeated (4-0) when achieving a hitting percentage above .300.
ย
EXCELLENT ELIANA
Eliana Urzua powered UCLA to back-to-back sweeps in their final weekend of nonconference play, delivering a team-high 38 kills while hitting at an efficient .311 clip. The standout freshman averaged 3.45 kills per set and contributed on both sides of the ball, adding 18 digs and seven blocks to her stat line. Urzua's breakout performance came against Texas State, where she erupted for a career-best 20 kills on a blistering .405 hitting percentage. She also anchored the defense with six digs and four blocks.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Phekran Kong made her UCLA debut against Hawaii on Sept. 20 and delivered immediate contributions, finishing with a team-high 12 kills at an extremely efficient hitting percentage of .405. She followed that up by tallying nine kills and five blocks in the following match against No. 4 Stanford. Through two games, Kong is averaging 3.79 points-per-set and hitting a team-best .317.
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.
ย
UCLA (6-4) at Ohio State (3-5)
Date/Time:ย Friday, Sept. 26, 3 p.m. (PT)
Location:ย Columbus, Ohio (Covelli Center)
Watch:ย B1G+
Live Stats:ย ohiostatestats.com
ย
Game 2
UCLA (6-4) at No. 15 Penn State (6-4)
Date/Time:ย Sunday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. (PT)
Location:ย University Park, Penn. (Rec Hall)
Watch:ย Big Ten Network
Talent:ย Jason Knapp (pxp); Mac Podraza (analyst)
Live Stats:ย pennstate.statbroadcast.com
ย
UCLA OPENS BIG TEN PLAY AT OHIO STATE, PENN STATE
The UCLA women's volleyball team begins its Big Ten Conference campaign with two road games at Ohio State and Penn State. The Bruins will take on the Buckeyes in the league opener on Friday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. (PT). UCLA will then face off against the reigning National Champions, Penn State, on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. (PT). Friday's contest will be available for viewing on B1G+ while Sunday's match will be featured on Big Ten Network.
ย
FIRST SERVE
- UCLA has won five of its last six contests
- The Bruins posted a 6-4 record during nonconference play.
- Cheridyn Leverette leads the team in scoring with 4.08 points-per-set and 3.64 kills-per-set
- 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 double-digit kills in three of her first 10 matches
- Urzua is the team's second leading scorer with 2.92 points-per-set
- Lola Schumacher leads the Big Ten in digs-per-set (4.00)
- Carly Hendrickson has emerged as one of UCLA's most important players in her return from injury, averaging 1.98 points-per-set (.215), 0.58 blocks-per-set, and a team-best 11 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)
- Kiki Horne and Kate Reilly were the only Bruins to appear in every match in 2024
LAST TIME OUT
UCLA wrapped up its weekend at the Stanford Tournament with two strong wins and a hard-fought loss. The Bruins opened with a four-set victory over Texas State, fueled by freshman Eliana Urzua's career-best 20 kills and a balanced team effort that included standout performances from Carly Hendrickson, Marianna Singletary, and setter Kate Duffey. They followed with a dominant sweep of Hawaii, highlighted by Phekran Kong's impressive debut (12 kills, .450 hitting) and continued defensive excellence from Lola Schumacher and Brooklyn Briscoe. In their finale, UCLA handed No. 4 Stanford its first set loss in five matches, but ultimately fell in four sets despite double-digit kills from Cheridyn Leverette and strong blocking from Singletary. The Bruins concluded the tournament 6-4 overall.
FIRST SET IS KEY
UCLA boasts a perfect 5-0 record this season when securing the first set. Of these five victories, four were achieved in straight sets, while one extended to a four-set contest against Texas State. Additionally, the Bruins hold a 6-1 record when winning the third set and remain undefeated (4-0) when achieving a hitting percentage above .300.
ย
EXCELLENT ELIANA
Eliana Urzua powered UCLA to back-to-back sweeps in their final weekend of nonconference play, delivering a team-high 38 kills while hitting at an efficient .311 clip. The standout freshman averaged 3.45 kills per set and contributed on both sides of the ball, adding 18 digs and seven blocks to her stat line. Urzua's breakout performance came against Texas State, where she erupted for a career-best 20 kills on a blistering .405 hitting percentage. She also anchored the defense with six digs and four blocks.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Phekran Kong made her UCLA debut against Hawaii on Sept. 20 and delivered immediate contributions, finishing with a team-high 12 kills at an extremely efficient hitting percentage of .405. She followed that up by tallying nine kills and five blocks in the following match against No. 4 Stanford. Through two games, Kong is averaging 3.79 points-per-set and hitting a team-best .317.
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 Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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