In a standout performance tonight by middle blocker, #11 Marianna Singletary, who ended the match with eight blocks and the second highest hitting percentage at 0.438, the Bruins swept the Testudos in three sets. After a recent loss against Oregon, the Bruins came in swinging to secure their ranking in the top 25 in the AVCA rankings.
UCLA (12-8, 6-4 Big Ten) welcomed the University of Maryland (8-12, 1-9 Big Ten) tonight under the shining lights in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins were secure in their lead in set 1, and stamped down on any fight that the Testudos had in sets 2 and 3.
With a net error by Maryland, the Bruins were off to a great start. Redshirt Junior transfer Singletary, played excellent defense back row, picking up one ball and digging the next, ultimately earning the point. After she stepped up to serve the next ball, she aced her first serve, and kept the Testudos out-of-system for the next. Maryland’s head coach, Adam Hughes, had no other option but to call a time-out in an attempt to slow her down. Starting outside hitter, #8 Maggie Li, consistently shut down plays back-to-back with Singletary, after killing the ball from the back row just moments before. Maryland made an official challenge, arguing that a net violation was made when Singletary stuff-blocked an attack made by Maryland. The referee ruled that there was no net violation, and the point would indeed stay with the Bruins. Set 1 was a breeze for the Bruins, who wrapped up the game 25-15.
The dynamic duo of the night, with Singletary and Li, set an impenetrable block against Maryland at the start of the set that had the crowd cheering for more. Back-to-back blocks gave UCLA the title for having the best defense. #22 Kat Lutz, a Defensive Specialist from Del Mar, California, was a serving sub for Opposite Hitter, #6 Anastasijia Ivkovic, ensuring that UCLA had a strong back row against Maryland’s attacks. With a time-out called by Maryland after being down 10-5, the Bruins maintained their lead throughout the rest of the set, despite Maryland’s attempts to catch up. Towards the end of the set, with UCLA up 21-18, the Testudos called for an official review, arguing that #30 Lola Schumacher, a libero from Wisconsin, touched the ball as it went out of bounds. Coach Hughes was correct, and the point was overturned. After another shut-down block by Singletary and Li, to bring them to game point, Li wrapped up the set 25-20 with a kill.
Maryland came into the third set with fiery passion. Despite Singletary’s attempts to shut down their momentum with a block, Maryland used their experience from the last two sets to drive the ball into deep corners to earn points. Down 3-5, the Bruins called for an official review, contending that a pancake dive made by Maryland’s libero had made contact with the floor. The Bruins were correct to contest the point, and the point was awarded to UCLA. This changed the tide in the Bruins’ favor, with #9 Cheridyn Leverette killing balls left and right to push them back into leading the set. Maryland called a time-out after the Bruins refused to give away the lead again. After another official review in favor of UCLA, Singletary shut down an unsuccessful backrow attack from Maryland’s star player, Ajack Malual. UCLA wrapped up the set before Maryland reached 20 points.
UCLA wrapped up the game with an average hitting percentage of 0.321, more than double what Maryland had. Up next, UCLA will face USC in a rematch on Oct. 29 at the Galen Center.
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Featured Image Photographed by Luana Caravalho/BruinLife
