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UCLA cruised past Austin Peay in three sets tonight to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Bruins started the match off scoring the first 8 points as part of a 14-2 run. By that point, the first set was pretty much decided. The teams split the next 8 points and the Bruins had an 18-6 lead. A 5-0 mini-run by UCLA gave the Bruins a 23-6 lead. While the Governors would then go on a 4-1 run of their own, it was too little, too late and the Bruins took the set, 25-10.
The second set started off basically the same way as the first. In this set, the Bruins started it off with a 13-3 run. The teams split the next 20 points and UCLA lead 23-13 and the Bruins took the final two points to win the set.
The final set began differently from the first two as the teams split the first 18 points. With the score tied 9-9, the highlight of the night came next for Austin Peay as the Governors scored the next point to take their first lead of the night, 10-9. The Bruins came right back to tie it 10-10. But Austin Peay took the next point to take their second and final lead of the night, 11-10.
With Reily Buechler serving, the Bruins went on a 10-0 run that included three kills by Kyra Rogers and 5 straight service aces from Buechler. The teams then split the next 8 points, making the score 24-15 and putting the Bruins on the verge of closing out the match, and they did just that on the next point, winning the set 25-15.
Buechler led the Bruins with 13 kills and 10 digs while Sarah Sponcil also had a double-double with 28 assists and 18 digs. Zana Muno also was in double digits with 12 digs. For the match, the Bruins out-hit the Governors .324 to .051.
UCLA’s next opponent is Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, led by former Bruin Torrey Van Winden and her sister Adlee. The teams will play at Pauley Pavilion tonight at 7 pm PT and the winner will advance to play number 2 national seed Florida in the third round.
Go Bruins!!!