What’s Bruin: Women’s Volleyball to Host Austin Peay on Friday

UCLA Women’s Volleyball

The 15th-seeded Bruins host the NCAA First and Second Rounds at Pauley Pavilion this weekend. UCLA takes on Austin Peay in the First Round on Friday at 8 p.m., and the winners of Friday's matches will play in the Second Round on Saturday at 7 p.m. The winner of the Los Angeles Sub-Regional will advance to next weekend's NCAA Regionals at the highest remaining seed in that side of the bracket.

Additionally, five UCLA women’s players were named to the All-Pac-12 Conference teams on Tuesday, as senior Reily Buechler and sophomore Madeleine Gates earned First Team honors, senior Sarah Sponcil and freshman Mac May picked up All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention nods and May and Jenny Mosser were recognized on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

Buechler finally received the first team recognition after Honorable Mentions the last three years. She leads the Bruins with 3.40 kills per set and is third with 2.61 digs per set and 21 service aces, adding 0.46 blocks per set. Additionally, she is first on the squad with 22 double-figure kills contests and second with 12 double-doubles.

Gates leads the Bruins with 1.23 blocks per set and a .354 hitting percentage, adding 2.85 kills per set, which is third on the team. Sponcil is in the top spot with 11.27 assists per set and 17 double-doubles, while also ranking second with an average of 3.18 digs per set, 0.55 blocks per set, and 18 service aces. May leads the Bruins with 30 service aces, adding 2.68 kills per set, and Mosser, who was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Monday, is second on the team with 2.94 kills per set. She has 16 double-figure kills contests, which is second on the team, recording a season-high 28 kills at Colorado.

UCLA Swimming and Diving

The UCLA swimming and diving program signed 15 National Letters of Intent this week, including a swarm of NISCA/Speedo All-America honors. This group includes 14 swimmers and one diver.

Head coach Cyndi Gallagher says, "It's without a doubt a talented group, but I think I'm most excited about their desire to get better. Whether it's in the classroom or in the pool, these young women love to learn and want to be the best they can be. We have All-Americans, as well as National and Junior National qualifiers, but most of all, we have Bruins who embrace our culture of competitive greatness. I'm really looking forward to getting going with them next fall." (Have to love the nod to Coach in her quote!)

UCLA Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball team rolled past UC Riverside on Tuesday, defeating the Highlanders 68-48. Monique Billings led the Bruins with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Kello Hayes added 12 points and Jordin Canada added another 10.

Ahead by 17 points at halftime, the Bruins stretched their lead to 45-24 in the third when five different players scored. Sloppy play reared it’s ugly head, however, when UCLA had nine turnovers, including five in the first quarter, and 12 of 17 missed shots from the field.

Five freshmen combined to score 23 points for the Bruins, led by Kayla Owens, who scored 8 of her own off the bench, including two three-pointers.

UCLA women’s basketball has won three in a row since their lone loss to top-ranked UConn last week.

UCLA Football

We can’t have a What’s Bruin without some more Chip Kelly talk. When speaking about UCLA’s facilities, Kelly said, “When you have a hotel, a football field, and an office within 20 yards, I think that’s the best in the country”.

We’re just missing one very pretty trophy...

And that’s What’s Bruin this Thursday!

Go Bruins!