The UCLA women’s volleyball team had another successful story at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night, as they secured a 3-0 win against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers came into the game as 2-13 in the Big Ten, however UCLA had home advantage and a previous wins over Rutgers.
The Bruins brought a fiery attitude to the first set, leading the game from start to finish. UCLA managed to weave away from Rutgers early on to place them in good standing and give them a boost of confidence for the rest of the game.
Standout players from UCLA included Cheridyn Leverette with 16 kills, Maggie Li with 10 kills and a season best of 12 digs, and Lola Schumacher with the highest number of digs for her team at 15. Their fierce determination with both defense and offense contributed to UCLA’s overall 44 kills and eventual win, and proved to be tough opponents for the Scarlet Knights to battle throughout this game.
The Bruins carried the game in the first set, contributing to their .324 overall hitting percentage in comparison to Rutgers hitting at .108 by the end of the game. UCLA’s tighter accuracy and relatively few errors enabled them to take control of the game early, and their strong line of tall defensive players provided a wall against Rutgers to help secure the win.
The Scarlet Knights from Rutgers did make a strong effort to fight back, as displayed by players such as Zora Hardison with 10 kills and a .381 hitting percentage. Their teamwork was notable, as they worked tirelessly to close the gap between themselves and UCLA. However, UCLA played ruthlessly and defeated Rutgers 25-18 in the first set, giving them an edge for the rest of the game at Pauley.
Spurred on by their previous win in the set before, the Bruins showed their endurance particularly in this second set. There was a drop in Rutgers efficiency from 0.235 to 0.053, and this was powered by UCLA’s immovable defense.
There was a struggle for the Bruins to win the set point on the 2nd set, however luck came through on the third try as they won the set 25-16, lowering the pressure for the third set and solidifying their confidence in themselves and their teammates.
The third set proved to be the most tense of them all. Both teams struggled with their efficiency as their fatigue kicked in, and they both dropped their accuracy in hitting percentage. A late set surge for Rutgers may have put the pressure on UCLA more in this set, but they kept their composure even though Rutgers was close behind. UCLA closed this set with a 25-23 win with an overall win of 3-0, demonstrating their consistency and stamina even in the last moments of the game.
The Bruins look forward to their game against Illinois this Thursday, and given their recent successes, they should feel confident and proud when this game comes around.
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Featured Image Photographed by Janwayne Orme/BruinLife
