Closing out a season is a key moment for any program.
The final matches are opportunities to build momentum for the playoffs and show season growth. The Bruins find themselves in a familiar position, ending the campaign the way it began – on the road.
UCLA women’s volleyball (16-12, 10-8 Big Ten) will take on Michigan (21-8, 11-7) on Wednesday evening at Cliff Keen Arena before closing out conference play against Michigan State (18-10, 8-10) on Friday morning at Breslin Center, marking the end to a travel-heavy regular season, having played 16 of their 28 matches away.
“We approach it the same as we approach every other match,” said senior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette. “We try to show up the same way every time, regardless of anything that’s happening, … just quieting all the outside noise and showing up the same way that we show up every single day in practice.”
Leverette has been a bright spot all season. The Hampton, Georgia, local broke out last season, posting a team-leading 435 kills and earning First Team All-Big Ten honors.
This season has been no different, as she leads the squad with 387 kills and averages 13.8 kills per match across 28 matches, reaching double-digit marks in all but four games.
“I just felt very confident in playing next to her (Leverette), and I know she always taught us, and I always have full faith in her,” said junior outside hitter Maggie Li.
Leverette was selected No. 31 overall in the fourth round of the Major League Volleyball draft Monday by the Orlando Valkyries – the first Bruin to be drafted in program history – and will join former Bruin Audrey Pak, who signed with the Columbus Fury in August.
Sophomore setter Kate Duffey has stepped into the leading role for the Bruins’ offense following Pak’s graduation in 2024. Duffey has dished out 893 assists this season and has been developing her play this year to better orchestrate the offense.
“I think we adapted and adjusted really well,” Leverette said. “We were put in some very challenging situations tonight. I think having to adjust our connection offensively to a couple of setting options that we had was big. I was super proud of us for just sticking in it and sticking through it and finding ways to find success within that.”
The Bruins are closing in on their final two regular-season matches with the opportunity to end a three-year postseason drought. UCLA currently ranks No. 42 in RPI after dropping two of its last four games. The Bruins note that they will have to apply the lessons they have learned from previous games.
“I think just finding solutions,” Leverette said. “There was a lot of movement on both sides, trying on different lineups. And so I think finding little things that would work, and then we would adapt and adjust.”
Michigan is riding a six-game winning streak and has only dropped three home matches against conference opponents. Outside hitter Allison Jacobs leads the Wolverines with 422 kills, averaging 4.02 per set.
The Spartans’ offense ranks eighth in the conference in kills with 1,354, led by outside hitter Karolina Staniszewska, who has posted 323 this season. The Bruins’ defense will need to limit the Spartans’ attack by continuing their backrow unity, which ranks first in digs per set in the Big Ten with 14.45.
How well the Bruins capitalize on their adjustments may make or break whether they clinch an NCAA tournament bid.
Comments are closed.