Typically, a volleyball set is a game to the first 25 points. Tonight, however, was an anomaly. With two out of the four sets continuing to a 30-point win, neither team was willing to give up a set. Doing so would mean losing their spot to continue for a chance to win the NCAA Division I Championship.
The Bruins took on the Kentucky Wildcats at the Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky, after sending Georgia Tech home after the first round. Seeded first, Kentucky took the win over UCLA, but the Bruins were sure to take a set of their own, refusing to admit defeat so early on.
UCLA started the first set unbelievably well against the Wildcats, with setter Kate Duffey dropping a setter kill and following up with middle blocker Marianna Singletary for a quick set attack. However, Kentucky quickly closed the gap after outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette was subbed out of the back row.
Defensive specialist Kat Lutz also saw some playing time as a serving sub, but Kentucky was sure to put the ball down on the Bruins, ending her time on the court. With back-to-back kills from Leverette and Singletary, who had a record high of 22 and 15 kills, respectively, the Bruins didn’t let Kentucky surpass, continuing a tie game until the very end. Both teams continued to call time-outs to regroup as the game pushed past 25 points, but the Wildcats outplayed the Bruins in the set, scoring 30-28.
Set two was where Kentucky kept their momentum going from the first set win. Despite keeping a tight score in the beginning, the Bruins lost their hold as two balls were shanked from both of UCLA’s outsides, forcing Coach Alfee Reft to call another time-out, down eight points.
Libero Lola Schumacher, also the Big Ten defensive player of the week, shone bright as she played excellent defense against Kentucky’s cut shots and tips. She led in the number of digs tonight, totaling 20 digs. Unfortunately for the Bruins, a sharp cross-court kill from Kentucky ended the set, 25-16.
UCLA started the third set with a serve, and both teams battled back and forth for points after a tip from Kentucky and a slide attack from Singletary. Using the block to bounce the ball out, outside hitter Eliana Urzua strategically took the point. Another kill from Leverette gave the Bruins their first lead since the first set.
Leverette was unstoppable, finding a deep corner for another point. At 23-24, the ball got called out on Kentucky, and the Bruins tied the game. Not wanting to play a fourth set, Kentucky challenged the point and proceeded to lose the challenge. After Kentucky slammed a ball on UCLA, Reft issued a challenge to have an opportunity to talk to his team. The Bruins took his advice and stole the set win from right under Kentucky’s nose, 28-30.
Kentucky started the final set of the match strong, finding all of UCLA’s weak spots on the court. However, Singletary stayed resilient as she went back to serve and got the first ace for UCLA, which was then followed by another ace. Kentucky’s outside hitter Eva Hudson challenged the Bruins, getting back-to-back points, both in and out of system.
Another free ball from the Bruins gave the Wildcats a chance to utilize it and go for the kill as this set began to look more and more like the second set. A block against Leverette, giving a point for the Wildcats, made the crowd go wild with cheers on Kentucky’s home court, and the Wildcats wrapped up the second round of the NCAA Championships with a win.
This match concluded the 2025 season for the UCLA women’s volleyball team; however, fans can continue to watch senior Leverette play professional volleyball for the Orlando Valkyries.
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Featured Image Photographed by Siena Hunt/BruinLife
