The Big Ten gauntlet continues.
After dropping two straight home games against No. 13 Purdue and Indiana, UCLA women’s volleyball (8-6, 2-2 Big Ten) will head to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to face No. 14 Minnesota (13-2, 3-1). After faltering late in both games last weekend, the Bruins will take on a team that has been a postseason mainstay.
Coach Alfee Reft said the Bruins have shown flashes of improvement but struggled to maintain momentum over full matches.
“There’s a lot of tough teams, and you have to show up every night,” Reft said. “I thought our team was good in some areas, … but we got to find a way to string together good volleyball for longer.”
Minnesota finished last season in the top half of the Big Ten standings and returns a front line that ranked among the league leaders in blocks per set. Led by veteran hitters, the Golden Gophers swept their opening weekend at home and have won four of their last five matches.
The Bruins, meanwhile, have shown they can keep pace defensively, with multiple underclassmen stepping into bigger roles. Reft said the growing pains have been apparent but emphasized that players earning time have proven themselves.
“At some point I think we have four sophomores on court and two freshmen,” Reft said. “There’s a lot of quick learning curves … but that’s not an excuse. We should be handling business.”
Closing points will be crucial against a Minnesota team built on blocking and service pressure. The Gophers limited opponents to a 0.18 hitting percentage last season, so the Bruins’ ability to generate clean swings will likely decide the match.
Sophomore defensive specialist/libero Lola Schumacher said the group is eager for the challenge.
“I’m super excited to get back in the gym,” Schumacher said. “We’re hungrier than ever, and it’s time to get better. I know our whole group knows that, and I’m really excited to get back in with this team.”
Schumacher notched a season-high 24 digs in the team’s victory over reigning national champions Penn State at the end of last month, earning her Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Honors.
The matchup also gives the Bruins another chance to acclimate to Big Ten travel. Minnesota’s Maturi Pavilion is among the most challenging environments in the conference, regularly drawing crowds of more than 4,000. Handling that pressure on the road will be another test of maturity for a young UCLA roster.
Reft said that the staff’s focus remains on preparation and continuing to raise the standard against every opponent on the schedule.
“We’re going to play the people that have earned the spots,” Reft said. “Yes, we have lots of talent, but at the end of the day we’ve got to execute.”
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