Libero
Personnel: Matthew Aziz, Luca Curci, Coleman McDonough, Matthew Chun
There has been a Troy Gooch-sized hole in the Bruins’ roster since he graduated two years ago.
Evidenced by two consecutive seasons of rotating between two players at libero – one of which being a true outside hitter on both squads – UCLA has yet to find Gooch’s successor.
And for a team that could three-peat on the national stage this year, UCLA’s uncertainty at libero is greater than it may want to let on.
As back-row rotations have experienced various players stepping in and out defensively, it might be no surprise that the team’s three dig leaders this year aren’t even liberos.
And besides the AVCA First Team All-American duo of junior setter Andrew Rowan and redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson, no Bruin has yet to crack 90 digs.
Nonetheless, redshirt junior libero Matthew Aziz has helmed most of the defensive duties, appearing in 21 of the Bruins’ 26 regular-season games while ranking third on the team with 1.04 digs per set. Against Grand Canyon on April 5, the Burbank local also set a season-high eight digs.
And similar to how Aziz split time at the position with former Bruin outside hitter Alex Knight last season, Luca Curci seems to be next up for coach John Hawks. Although listed as an outside hitter, the 6-foot-3 sophomore’s frame may be poised for defensive versatility.
Curci, who notched 64 digs in 2025, is not unfamiliar with the role after subbing in at libero throughout 2024 as well.
But poorly defined libero minutes aren’t a new phenomenon for the Bruins.
The fact that the squad begins the NCAA tournament as the No. 3 seed illustrates the back row’s fight. If multiple names in multiple positions can contribute, that might be all Hawks can ask for.
Especially when defensive fortitude at the net can prevent hits from reaching the back.
Middle blocker
Personnel: Cameron Thorne, Thiago Zamprogno, Spencer Graves, Micah Wong Diallo, Sean McQuiggan, Christopher Hersh, Matthew Edwards
After the 2024 MPSF Player of the Year and AVCA First Team All-American Merrick McHenry graduated, the middle blocker position was initially left with a daunting hole.
But filling in that gap with a player who ran through the Bruins in last year’s MPSF championship is amusing poetry.
And UCLA did just that by bringing in junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne from Grand Canyon.
Not only did Thorne match McHenry in his accolades – garnering First Team All-MPSF and All-American honors in his first season in Westwood – but he also matched McHenry’s offensive intensity.
Thorne notched 187 kills on a .530 hitting efficiency through the regular season and MPSF tournament and showed out in pressure situations. He logged 15 and 17 kills on .579 and .842 hitting percentages, respectively, in UCLA’s two victories against then-No. 2 UC Irvine on Feb. 19 and Feb. 22. He followed those performances up with 11 kills and a .714 clip in the Bruins’ MPSF semifinal loss.
Despite the middle blocker’s offensive prowess, he has seen limited opportunities compared to his teammates. Thorne sits third on the team in total attacks with 279 but is over 300 attacks behind Robinson and junior outside hitter Zach Rama, who sit in first and second with 625 and 599, respectively. Surprisingly enough, freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly has recorded 259 attacks while playing 31 fewer sets.
The Bruins may need to rely more heavily on their middle blocker come the NCAA tournament, as Thorne provides offensive prowess with defensive tenacity, ranking 13th in the nation in blocks per set with a 1.06 clip.
Joining Thorne at the net is redshirt junior duo Matthew Edwards and Sean McQuiggan, who have combined for 68 blocks this season thus far. But, after Edwards’ no-show in the MPSF semifinals and McQuiggan being benched early in the first set, Thorne is expected to hold the mantle throughout the NCAA tournament.
However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if sophomore Micah Wong Diallo’s name is called after he notched three blocks and four kills against No. 4 seed Pepperdine in the MPSF semifinals. Despite playing just 12 sets this season, his apparent connection with Rowan and adept defensive capabilities make him a contender for minutes.
Outside Hitter
Personnel: Cooper Robinson, Sean Kelly, Zach Rama, Kahale Clini
The Bruins’ attack has largely been spearheaded by Robinson, who boasts a team-leading 625 attacks.
However, this usage isn’t unwarranted. The 2025 MPSF Player of the Year and AVCA First Team All-American has posted the nation’s 11th-best hitting percentage this year with a career-high .387 clip.
The Pacific Palisades local has recorded 15-plus kill performances 13 times this season and has nailed at least a .400 clip in 14 games.
Robinson is far from one-dimensional, though.
His 54 blocks rank second on the team, and he achieved a career-high seven blocks on March 7 against Stanford.
Hitting alongside Robinson for most of the year has been Rama. But since his move to opposite hitter to replace inconsistency from injured senior outside hitter/opposite Ido David, Kelly has taken his mantle.
On top of an All-MPSF honorable mention honor and a selection to the All-MPSF Freshman Team, Kelly has been one of Hawks’ most reliable players in the second half of the season.
Kelly finished the regular season and MPSF tournament with double-digit kills in six of his last eight games and notched a .350-plus hitting percentage in half of those contests. In the semifinals, Kelly logged 12 kills, four blocks and three aces alongside a .421 clip against Pepperdine.
Simply put, he has proved his ability to show up in big moments.
While not heavily contributing to pin-hitting duties, sophomore Kahale Clini has been the Bruins’ serving specialist this season, recording 14 aces despite 35 service errors.
Ensuring a consistent attack, especially with the potential for different options, will keep defenses on their heels and will make the road for UCLA’s setters smoother.
The squad’s .367 hitting percentage ranks third in the nation. Keeping that metric at or above current baselines could be crucial against some of the nation’s top teams.
Opposite
Personnel: Ido David, Zach Rama, Jaidin Russell, David Decker, Caleb Sapp
Two years ago, David was a 2023 AVCA First Team All-American and contributed 23 kills to UCLA’s 20th NCAA title.
Now, he appears nonexistent.
After beginning the year as UCLA’s starting opposite, head and knee injuries sidelined David for the majority of the season and kept him away from the hardwood in pin-hitting capacity.
Despite that, David is tied for third on the team in service aces in just 53 sets this year. While injuries may prevent David from seeing any legitimate time at the net, Hawks used him as a serving specialist late in the MPSF semifinals and will most likely see serving specialist duties in the NCAA tournament.
But while one door might have closed, another opened.
Rama has taken advantage of the absence at opposite to reclaim the rhythm he finished last season with. Since moving to opposite, Rama has posted eight consecutive double-digit kill performances and registered a .300-plus hitting percentage in five of those affairs.
The 2025 AVCA Second Team All-American’s crucial contributions to the squad’s performance in Columbus, Ohio, could dictate how the season finishes.
Joining Rama is redshirt sophomore David Decker, who has been a card Hawks has played more often in the second half of the season.
Although he comes in for spot minutes and is still inconsistently in the rotation, Decker may be an option Hawks explores further down the line when considering substitutions to make.
Decker posted key performances against Ohio State Feb. 1 and UC Santa Barbara Feb. 28 where he posted 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
As the season winds down, eyes will be on David’s game status and Decker’s minutes. And as the former is set to graduate, investing in the latter’s development may be worthwhile.
Setter
Personnel: Andrew Rowan, Trent Taliaferro
Of all of UCLA’s positions, setter is arguably the most stable.
Not only has Andrew Rowan appeared in all but two games this season, he is also a three-time AVCA First Team All-American.
Rowan has matched his season-high 47 assists three times, and it seems almost routine for him to rack up at least 40 in any given game.
The Trabuco Canyon, California, local has notched at least 40 assists in seven of his last ten contests and has dipped below 30 in just four games this season.
Rowan’s experience as a two-time national champion indicates his pedigree, and that’s something Hawks will fall back on.
Although he sits outside the top 10 in assists per set nationally, if he continues to helm a top-ranking attack, that’s a ship UCLA can be confident to ride into the postseason.
And if, for some reason, Rowan isn’t the answer, Trent Taliaferro is more than capable of stepping up. The freshman posted 47 assists against Stanford March 6 and 31 against Vanguard March 13.
The Bruins have nothing to worry about at setter.
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