News Summary
The UCLA men’s volleyball team is gearing up for a crucial match against Vanguard, aiming for their fourth consecutive MPSF regular-season title. Currently holding a 13-3 overall record and undefeated in the MPSF at 3-0, UCLA’s team includes standout players like Cameron Thorne and Cooper Robinson. Meanwhile, Vanguard struggles with a 6-10 record, but their roster features notable talents. As Coach John Hawks leads the team toward the upcoming tournament, this match could significantly influence their season’s trajectory.
Los Angeles – The UCLA men’s volleyball team is gearing up for a crucial match against Vanguard on March 13, 2025, as they aim for their fourth consecutive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) regular-season title. Currently, UCLA boasts an impressive record of 13 wins and 3 losses overall, and they stand undefeated in the MPSF at 3-0. In contrast, Vanguard, which recently transitioned to the MPSF after four years in the NAIA, is struggling with a record of 6 wins and 10 losses, including 1 win and 4 losses in the conference.
The upcoming match will be held at the Freed Center for Leadership and Service, followed by a rematch at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion on March 15, 2025. UCLA’s volleyball team is determined to extend their remarkable streak as MPSF regular-season champions, a title they have held for the past three years. Notably, the last time UCLA failed to secure the regular-season championship was before any current players had enrolled in college.
UCLA’s successful MPSF campaign has been highlighted by their recent victories over then-No. 10 Stanford. In a dominant performance, UCLA held Stanford to a mere 0.076 hitting percentage, allowing the Cardinal to win only one set in the two matches combined. Junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne has been a standout player, currently averaging 4.27 blocks per game and ranking fourth in the nation with an average of 1.164 blocks per set. He has emphasized the team’s goal of achieving shorter matches to conserve energy for the rest of the season.
In addition, redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson has earned the title of AVCA Player of the Week after achieving a career-high of seven blocks in the match against Stanford. UCLA’s hitting prowess has also been impressive, with a hitting percentage of 0.365, ranking fourth in the country. The team has also demonstrated strong serving capabilities, being fifth nationally in aces per set, with a total of 107 aces this season.
UCLA’s setter situation has presented some challenges, as junior Andrew Rowan missed initial MPSF games due to illness. However, he plays a crucial role in the team’s offense, currently ranking 20th in the nation in assists per set with 9.56. Despite the team’s excellent overall performance, they have a total error count that exceeds their opponents by 60 this season, which could have implications as they proceed further into the season.
Vanguard’s roster features notable players such as setter Grant Dvorak and outside hitter Logan Freemon, who have combined for 269 kills this season. Dvorak stands 10th in the MPSF for kills per set, averaging 3.07, while teammate Brock Henderson leads the team with 279 assists. Vanguard, despite their troubles this season, is known for their potential and ability to surprise stronger teams.
UCLA, under the guidance of Coach John Hawks, is approaching the tournament scheduled for April with a focus on developing patience and trust within the team. Last season, UCLA faced a setback after losing in the MPSF tournament final to Grand Canyon University with a close score of 3-2. The upcoming matches against Vanguard could set the tone for the rest of the season and reinforce UCLA’s standing as a powerhouse in men’s volleyball.
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Additional Resources
- UCLA Bruins: No. 2 UCLA Men’s Volleyball Sweeps Vanguard 3-0
- Wikipedia: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
- Daily Bruin: UCLA Men’s Volleyball to Play Vanguard
- Google Search: UCLA Men’s Volleyball news
- UCLA Bruins: No. 2 UCLA Men’s Volleyball Breezes Past Vanguard 3-0
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Volleyball
- Long Beach State: No. 1 Long Beach State Sweeps No. 3 UCLA
- Google News: UCLA Men’s Volleyball
