Brutal Turn of Events for UCLA Men’s Volleyball
Things changed dramatically for the UCLA men’s volleyball team.
One moment they were happily celebrating their advancement to the Final Four. The next, they were heartbroken after facing an unexpected end to their season.
This shift in fate occurred during the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals against UC Irvine. A potential game-winning point was overturned following an official review, throwing the Bruins’ momentum into disarray.
Initially, UC Irvine, an unseeded team, found themselves at a disadvantage but managed a stunning comeback to defeat UCLA in a tense match: 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 16-14 at Pauley Pavilion.
Just how big of an upset was this? Well, UCLA had only lost one match all season prior to this, with their lone defeat coming against Pepperdine some weeks earlier.
“Honestly,” UCLA senior outside hitter Zach Lama expressed, visibly shaken, “I think none of us expected this, given our confidence and our teamwork. It feels unreal right now.”
The climax came when Lama’s attack error at match point allowed UC Irvine to celebrate wildly. They had trailed 8-4 in the fifth set, and it looked like the Bruins might pull ahead again after an early match point.
Head Coach David Kniffin for UC Irvine mentioned he felt confident the review would go in their favor because he noted that UCLA players had touched the ball during play. “But you never really know what the camera will catch,” he said, adding that staying positive was more crucial than fixating on the specifics of the play.
The tension continued as the Bruins, determined not to suffer from the overturned call again, huddled together in a show of solidarity. Senior setter Andrew Rowan commented, “We talked about moving on, even if you face a tough call, and I hope we can bounce back.”
Undoubtedly, this season was unusual for the Bruins. More often than not, they’ve led their matches, but they had to rally significantly this time around. This included pulling off a comeback victory over the same Anteaters just a month ago.
Following a comeback that put UC Irvine ahead, an error by UCLA’s middle blocker Cameron Thorne tied things up again. The decisive moment came as they attempted a kill that went out of bounds, allowing UC Irvine to score the final point and seal their victory.
The Anteaters erupted in celebration, with their reserves rushing onto the court and senior William Darcy showing his excitement by pulling his jersey over his head.
As for UCLA, they had to confront the harsh reality that they wouldn’t be advancing to the Final Four, which would be held at their home court. UC Irvine was set to face No. 4 seed Ball State in one semifinal, while No. 3 Long Beach State was matched against No. 2 Hawaii State in another.
“It’s really tough,” Rowan reflected. “This is the first time I’ve faced this kind of loss, and it’s hard to process.”
Rowan had previously played in two championships and was a runner-up last season, making this exit even more painful. “It’s just unfortunate,” Bruins coach John Hawks remarked. “They had a wonderful journey, and it’s a shame to see it end like this.”
