The win was comfortable, straightforward and relatively simple for the Bruins. The same cannot yet be said about their playoff position. Two wins in their last two games – it was the only way the UCLA men’s volleyball team could assure itself a spot in the postseason conference tournament. Read more...

Photo: Senior outside hitter Robart Page (left), freshman middle blocker Mitch Stahl (right) and the Bruins are tied for sixth in the conference standings after Thursday night’s win against Cal Baptist. (Nathan Vanderveer-Harris/Daily Bruin)

The freshman had hit only one serve in over four sets. It was crunch time – the final set of Saturday’s must-win matchup against Long Beach State– and it was up to middle blocker Mitch Stahl to get his team back on track. Read more...

Photo: Freshman setter Hagen Smith (left) and freshman middle blocker Mitch Stahl (left) reach for a block. Stahl has recently transitioned back to his original position of middle blocker, where he feels he is most comfortable and able to contribute. (Nathan Vanderveer-Harris/Daily Bruin)

All Spencer Rowe wanted for his birthday was a win. Wins have come few and far between for UCLA men’s volleyball lately, but on Saturday night the Bruins finally earned themselves a coveted match point. Read more...

Photo: Senior middle blocker Spencer Rowe came up with the game-winning kill in a win over Long Beach State on his birthday Saturday. (Nathan Vanderveer-Harris/Daily Bruin)

It was a scenario that has become all too familiar for the UCLA men’s volleyball team. After dropping a crucial first set to Cal State Northridge Thursday night, the team battled back to win the second and fourth sets before dropping the fifth in overtime and losing the match 3-2. Read more...

Photo: Senior outside hitter Gonzola Quiroga that in the context of difficult teams UCLA is set to face, the team has not “played (its) best volleyball yet.”(Nathan Vanderveer-Harris/Daily Bruin)