A final tune up awaits before the gauntlet begins.
UCLA women’s volleyball (4-3) will close out its pre-conference lineup with a trip up north to the Stanford Tournament, where it will face Texas State (4-4), Hawai’i (4-4) and the tournament host, No. 4 Stanford (6-2). The Bruins fell out of the AVCA’s poll after spending the first two weeks among the rankings for the first time since the beginning of last season.
After already squaring off against one ranked opponent this fall, the Bruins will meet another in the Cardinal, giving them a final barometer before Big Ten conference play begins. Coach Alfee Reft said the focus will be on continuing internal growth while preparing for three quality opponents.
“We have to prep for three really good teams, not just Stanford,” Reft said. “We have a good Texas State team that played Arizona State tough, and we have a good Hawai’i team … it’s going to be a nice barometer for where this team is.”
Stanford defeated UCLA in a five-set victory in both teams’ final season in the Pac-12 two years ago, and this weekend will mark the first meeting since. Junior defensive specialist/libero Kat Lutz said the Bruins are eager to measure themselves again against high-level competition.
“I know we’re all just fired up to play next week,” Lutz said. “We played Stanford two years ago, and it was a pretty fun match. … I’m just really excited to see what we do, how we compete.”
Lutz has helped stabilize UCLA’s back row, recording double-digit digs in multiple matches already. She said the group has made strides by buying into Reft’s emphasis on competing with joy – a theme she believes will carry over against Stanford and Hawai’i.
The Bruins also showcased offensive versatility in their most recent outings, with senior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette noting the opportunity to refine new systems.
“We had a lot of dominant performances against our opponents this weekend, so it gave us a chance to try out some new offensive rhythms,” Leverette said. “We also implemented some new defensive things that are going to pay dividends.”
Texas State enters the weekend after a narrow five-set loss to No. 8 Arizona State, while Hawai’i boasts a veteran lineup that finished near the top of the Big West in both hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage last season. The Hawai’i backrow anchored the defense last season, finishing first in the Big West with 1,995 digs and averaging 15.96 digs per set. The Rainbow Wahine last faced the Bruins in Honolulu, pushing the match to four sets in 2023.
Stanford, meanwhile, remains among the nation’s top programs, powered by one of the strongest blocking units in the country. The Cardinal swept through their opening weekend and continues to feature multiple All-Americans across the front line.
The weekend represents more than a preseason finale for UCLA – it’s a chance to test new rhythms, sharpen systems and face the kind of opponents it will consistently see in the Big Ten. Reft said the team will use the next few days to focus on itself before turning its attention to the specific scouting reports.
“We have to get back to LA and take a couple of days to work on us,” Reft said. “Moving the needle forward on our own systems and how we play.”
With three matches in as many days, the Bruins will need contributions across their lineup.
But as Lutz put it, the group’s mindset might prove just as important as its tactics.
“We talk a lot about competing with joy,” Lutz said. “And I think that this weekend was great because we got into that. We can really just let out and compete with joy.”
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