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Tonight, it’s a Top 25 matchup when the #25 UCLA women’s volleyball team visits the #22 Washington State Cougars. The Bruins are currently in the midst of a three-match winning streak while the Cougars have won two in a row.
Last Time Out
On Sunday, the Bruins defeated the UC Berkeley Golden Bears, 25-19, 25-20, 25-27, 25-20.
Mac May led UCLA with 21 kills while Emily Ryan added 11 and Jenny Mosser and Lexi Hadrych had 10 each. Three Bruins were in double figures in sets also with Cali Thompson leading the team with 26, Devon Chang adding 20 and Kelli Barry putting up 10. Barry was the only Bruin in double figures in digs with 17, giving her a double-double for the match.
UCLA took an early 5-0 lead in the first set and the Golden Bears couldn’t put together a similar run until it was 24-15 and the Bears succeeded at fighting off four consecutive set points before the Bruins’ Savvy Simo ended the set.
The Bruins fell behind 4-3 in the second set when they went on a 3-0 mini-run which gave them the lead for good. The Bears rallied late again with four consecutive points, closing the gap from 23-15 to 23-19 but, again, it was too little, too late as a Mosser kill and a Bear attack error finished off this set.
UCLA could have swept the Bears, but a Berkeley comeback kept the sweep from happening. The Bruins’ first match point came when they led 24-22 in this set but the Bears scored three consecutive points on a Bruin service error and two Mac May attack errors to take a 25-24 lead. UCLA tied it at 25-25 before UC Berkeley used a kill and another May attack error to close out the set 27-25.
The Bruins found themselves down 4-1 after five points in set four, but then UCLA went on a 10-2 run to take an 11-6 lead and they went on to win the set 25-20 and take the match, 3-1.
Washington State Cougars
Four weeks ago, the Bruins swept the Cougs at Pauley Pavilion. Since that match, UCLA has gone just 4-3 while Washington State has gone 6-1. The lone WSU loss came against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
That said, I think UCLA can still beat Washington State tonight, but it won’t be another three set sweep. I think it will go a full five sets on the road tonight with UCLA prevailing.
Go Bruins!