MVB Wins NCAA Quarterfinal Match
The top-seeded UCLA men's volleyball team (24-5) began its title defense with a sweep against No. 8 seed Fort Valley State (17-9) in an NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship quarterfinal match on Tuesday at Long Beach State's Walter Pyramid. Scores of the match were 25-14, 25-15, 25-15.
The Bruins will now advance to play UC Irvine (No. 4 seed), which defeated No. 5 seed Penn State in straight sets in today's second match, in a semifinal contest scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. During the regular season, the Bruins defeated UC Irvine twice, in four sets at UCLA and in five sets at Irvine.
The Bruins, who entered the tournament as the nation's top hitting team, compiled a .521 attack percentage which was the second-highest mark of the season and third time above the .500 level. Ethan Champlin led a balanced Bruin offense with eight kills and a .400 percentage while Merrick McHenry and Ido David added 7 kills apiece and hit .778 and .636, respectively. McHenry's mark was the 25th time in the last 26 matches he has achieved a .400 or better hitting percentage. Setter Andrew Rowan topped the team with six digs and set the team to at least a .350 or better attack percentage for the 17 time in 2024. Guy Genis hit .400 with three kills which was his 13th match on the year hitting above .300.
UCLA moved out to a 6-3 lead in set one after Champlin's kill ended a long rally. A couple of Fort Valley State errors helped the Bruins up the margin to 8-4. Rowan wiped a kill off hands for 9-6 and followed with an ace for a four-point advantage. Rowan's strong service continued and kills by Champlin and McHenry made it 15-7. A McHenry service winner pushed UCLA in front 17-8. David's ace made it 19-10. Cooper Robinson connected for 22-12. McHenry's kill grew the gap to 10, at 23-13. A couple of service errors and a net violation later, the Bruins captured the win at 25-14. UCLA outhit the Wildcats .524 to .040.
Four early Bruin service errors helped Fort Valley grab a 6-8 edge. Kills by Genis and Champlin leveled the score at 10-all. Champlin followed with an ace for a 11-10 lead. Three straight kills by Robinson, David and Rowan supplied UCLA's biggest lead of the set at 14-11. Rowan / McHenry teamed up for a block and David blasted one through the Wildcat block for 18-12. David / McHenry and David / McHenry / Zach Rama blocks put UCLA up 22-12. McHenry's smash advanced the Bruins to set point at 24-14. Rama's deep corner kill finished off the set at 25-15. UCLA hit .469 for the frame.
Rama's swing pushed UCLA in front 6-5 to begin set three. A Rama / McHenry block made it 9-6. McHenry's swing put UCLA up 12-7. A series of errors left the Bruins in charge 14-9. David's blast upped the margin to 17-9. Champlin's put away made it 19-11. Sean McQuiggan added a kill for 20-11. A pair of Rama swings lifted the Bruins to a 23-14 edge. Matthew Edwards and Luca Curci supplied the next two kills for the win at 25-15.