UCLA Men’s Volleyball Tops BYU in Thrilling Matchup

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UCLA men's volleyball players celebrating their victory over BYU at Pauley Pavilion.

News Summary

The UCLA men’s volleyball team triumphed over No. 7 BYU in a captivating contest at Pauley Pavilion on April 12, 2025. Displaying exceptional skills, the Bruins secured the win in four sets, showcasing impressive hitting and defense. With this victory, they celebrated their third consecutive win, further solidifying their No. 2 national ranking. Key players contributed to the team’s success, including an outstanding performance by Cooper Robinson. The event drew a packed crowd and was broadcasted live on the Big 10 Network, marking a significant moment for men’s volleyball.

UCLA Men’s Volleyball Soars to Victory Against BYU in an Epic Showdown!

Los Angeles, CA – The UCLA men’s volleyball team has once again proven why they’re ranked No. 2 in the nation by defeating the No. 7 BYU Cougars in a thrilling matchup at Pauley Pavilion on April 12, 2025. The excitement didn’t just stop with the game as this competition was also broadcasted live on the Big 10 Network for the very first time, marking a historic moment for men’s volleyball.

Going into these matches, the Cougars came in with an overall record of 17-7 and a 5-3 standing in the MPSF conference. They had recently been on fire, securing consecutive wins against Stanford, with standout performances from seniors like Luke Benson and Teon Taylor. Benson flaunted his skills with a whopping 25 kills in those matches, while Taylor boasted impressive stats with six blocks and a .667 hitting percentage.

On the flip side, the Bruins had entered the weekend sporting a record of 17-4 and a 7-1 MPSF conference standing. They were eager to bounce back from their first conference loss of the season when they were swept 3-0 by GCU. Leading the Bruins was redshirt junior Cooper Robinson, who had been making waves with 254 kills and an impressive .388 hitting percentage, placing him among the top players in the NCAA.

Adding more drama to the matches was BYU’s recent 5-set triumph over UCLA the previous season, showcasing their competitive history, which has UCLA just barely ahead with a 39-37 record against the Cougars. BYU’s head coach, Shawn Olmstead, came into this matchup boasting an all-time record of 13-7 against UCLA. So, the stakes were undeniably high for both teams.

As the games unfolded, the Bruins fed off their momentum from the night before, convincingly winning the April 12 match in four sets. They put on an impressive display, achieving a stunning .479 hitting percentage, marking their second-highest this season. Key players for UCLA featured Cooper Robinson with 17 kills, Zach Rama with 12 kills, and Sean Kelly adding 10 kills. Not to be outdone, junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne had a remarkable performance with nine kills and a dazzling .727 hitting percentage.

Defense played a crucial role, with the Bruins racking up 23 blocks against BYU’s nine, showcasing the team’s defensive prowess, with Thorne leading the charge with six blocks. Conversely, BYU’s Keoni Thiim had a tough time against UCLA’s solid defense, struggling with only six kills and a .091 hitting percentage in their first encounter, and only improving to nine kills and a .080 hitting percentage in the next.

Setting a milestone of his own, UCLA’s Andrew Rowan surpassed 3,000 career-set assists during the April 12 match, wrapping up his game with 47 assists and contributing three crucial aces to the team’s efforts. It was a night where both teams shone in service aces, each landing 11 aces, but UCLA faced challenges on the serving end, committing 29 service errors.

The matches were made even more special with a packed house at Pauley Pavilion, including alumni from UCLA’s 1995 and 1975 national championship teams, as well as former head coach John Speraw. With this victory under their belt, UCLA not only advanced to their third consecutive victory, but they also fueled the fire for what promises to be an exciting remainder of the season.

As both teams look onward, fans can only wonder how the rivalry will unfold next time. Stay tuned for more exhilarating volleyball action!