A successful program isn’t just built by those on the court. It’s also built by those on the sidelines. And for UCLA men’s volleyball, dominance throughout the 2026 season wouldn’t have been possible without associate head coach Milan Zarkovic. Read more...
Photo: Associate head coach Milan Zarkovic speaks to senior setter Andrew Rowan on the sideline. Under Zarkovic, the Bruins won 20 straight matches to begin the 2026 season. (Edward Ho/Daily Bruin)
I don’t know where to begin. How does one characterize this year of UCLA sports? Broken records. Banners raised. Players drafted. It would be an understatement to say this past year was a period of unprecedented success. Read more...
Photo: Left to right: Redshirt sophomore defender Max Matthews celebrates winning the 2025 NCAA men’s water polo championship. Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez lifts the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball championship trophy. UCLA beach volleyball players celebrate on the sand after winning the 2026 NCAA beach volleyball championship. (Left to right: Michael Gallagher/Daily Bruin senior staff. Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff.Courtesy of UCLA Athletics.)
During my freshman year of high school, I watched a WSLAM video showcasing a day in the life of Kiki Rice. Rice was the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2022, per ESPN, and had not made her college commitment at the time. Read more...
Photo: Coach Cori Close led UCLA women’s basketball to its first-ever national championship in the March Madness era. (Photos by Brianna Carlson/Daily Bruin staff and Aidan Sun/Daily Bruin senior staff. Design by Ava Johnson/Daily Bruin senior staff.)
There are values you can only coach. There are experiences you can never predict. There are customs you can’t break. And there are competitors who challenge those beliefs, like senior sprinter/hurdler Tamaal Myers. Read more...
Photo: Director of track and field Joanna Hayes and senior sprinter/hurdler Tamaal Myers II embrace wearing celebratory crowns. Hayes and Myers transferred from USC in the same year. (Andrew Ramiro Diaz/Photo editor)
It’s been nearly a week since then-No. 1 UCLA baseball was eliminated in its own NCAA regional. People, many of whom have doubted the Bruins’ legitimacy all year long, feel like they’ve been proven right. Read more...
Photo: Roch Cholowsky takes a pitch to the ribs against Saint Mary’s. The junior shortstop, who’s projected to be the first-overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, likely played his last game as a Bruin on Sunday. (Kai Dizon/Daily Bruin senior staff)
Education and information studies lecturer Julie Pelikhova has taught student-athletes and coaches to prioritize their mental health for six years. Pelikhova – who teaches for UCLA’s Transformative Coaching and Leadership master’s program – said her experience helping students succeed in their sports inspired her to write a book titled “Mindset Champion: Winning the Inner Game for Student Athletes.” The book promotes conversations about athletes’ mental health and addresses the stigma surrounding it, she added. Read more...
Photo: Julie Pelikhova is featured holding a copy of her book “Mindset Champion: Winning the Inner Game for Student Athletes” in Pauley Pavilion. Her book emphasizes how important it is for student athletes to train their minds alongside their bodies. (Courtesy of Julie Pelikhova)
This post was updated June 3 at 11:32 p.m.. The Bruins have produced many of the best players in softball history. But a trio like Megan Grant, Taylor Tinsley and Jordan Woolery only graces a program once. Read more...
Photo: Left to right: seniors pitcher Taylor Tinsley, infielder Jordan Woolery and utility Megan Grant laugh together during an interview. The senior trio helped lead UCLA to three Women’s College World Series appearances across its Westwood career. (Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff)
