Despite falling short in the MPSF semifinals, No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (20-6, 10-2 MPSF) secured the second at-large bid in this week’s NCAA quarterfinals and will face No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey (17-8, 12-2 Conference Carolinas) on Thursday. Daily Bruin Sports’ men’s volleyball beat predicts how the Bruins will fare as they fight to three-peat as national champions.
Connor Dullinger Assistant sports editor Prediction: NCAA champions
I don’t know what to think about this team.
At the end of the regular season, I said the Bruins were “consistently inconsistent.”
[Related: Beat breakdown: UCLA men’s volleyball battles inconsistency in quest to avenge MPSF title]
AndI was exactly right to say that.
UCLA won 10 in a row before getting swept by then-No. 13 Grand Canyon on April 4. Andfollowing the loss, the Bruins won four consecutive before getting swept again by crosstown rivals USC and falling in five sets to Pepperdine in the MPSF semifinals.
There is no reason why I should believe in UCLA.
But just like I said before: Atthe MPSF tournament, the best team doesn’t always win, and there isn’t always a fairytale ending.
It is evident that UCLA isn’t the best team in the country, with powerhouses Long Beach State and Hawai’iidling in the bracket.
And the Bruins can be the nightmares to other squads’ championship dreams.
Just as the Bruins surprised me when they fell, they have equally surprised me when they’ve risen again.
And despite my inconsistent assessment of this year’s squad, I said at the beginning of this season that the Bruins have all the makings of a championship-caliber team.
This isevidenced by four newly honored 2025 AVCA All-Americans in outside hitter duo redshirt junior Cooper Robinson and junior Zach Rama and junior tandem setter Andrew Rowan and middle blocker Cameron Thorne.
Championship genetics reside in every fiber of the Bruins’ veins, cultivated by back-to-back national titles and a nation-leading 21 trophies.
Two weeks ago, I said this team lacks an identity.
Now, I’m saying this could be the year they three-peat.
Junior setter Andrew Rowan (left) sets the ball to redshirt junior middle blocker Sean McQuiggan (right). (Zimo Li/Photo editor)
Lex Wang Daily Bruin senior staff Prediction: NCAA champions
In my MPSF tournament takeaways, I wrote that I learned to expect the unexpected.
[Related: Beat Breakdown: Men’s volleyball writers discuss takeaways from the Bruins’ MPSF semifinals loss]
It was a bit of an evasive answer, because who hasn’t seen a top-seeded frontrunner get toppled by the underdog?
It’s a timeless trope that fuels every compelling sports narrative.
But when UCLA unexpectedly failed to get an automatic bid to Columbus, Ohio, I realized this could work in the Bruins’ favor come May.
UCLA can run with the big dogs – that much is clear.
Among the top 10 teams, it defeated then-No. 2 UC Irvine twice in the regular season, who in turn swept No. 1 Long Beach State – the team UCLA would likely face in the national championship – a month later. Furthermore, UCLA took both of its matches against then-No. 7 BYU and defeated Cal State Northridge – who also swept Hawai’i, the team UCLA would probably compete against in the semifinals.
Granted, I’ll admit that UCLA has yet to play Hawai’i since 2023. And, yes, UCLA lost to Long Beach twice while only taking one set combined in both matches.
It’s easy to overlook the sheer amount of talent on the Bruins’ roster when their shortcomings take center stage. But let outside hitter duo redshirt junior Cooper Robinson and junior Zach Rama’s top-30 ranked hitting percentages speak for themselves.
And don’t forget about freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly, who only got to shine for half the season yet still earned an All-MPSF honorable mention. Remember that junior setter Andrew Rowan is the only setter coming to Columbus who has two years of NCAA tournament experience under his belt.
SinceUCLA is no longer the top contender and comes into Thursday’s match as the No. 3 seed, viewers seem to largely be anticipating a Long Beach-Hawai’i contest in hopes of a Big West title replay.
I wonder if there’s a chance that the Bruins – arriving as a dark horse – can catch their opponents off guard. And I think with just enough willpower, that answer is yes – and that the Bruins just might be able to hold their own until the end.
Freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly digs the ball at Firestone Fieldhouse. (Selin Filiz/Daily Bruin staff)
Grant Walters Daily Bruin contributor Prediction: NCAA champions
An untarnished resume is a mark of success.
But it can also be a sign of a team’s inevitable collapse.
Such is the case with the 2007 New England Patriots – who lost in Super Bowl XLII despite boasting a 16-0 regular season record – or even the 2015 Kentucky Wildcats, who didn’t have a blemish on their record until the Final Four.
Overcoming adversity is something that builds championship DNA, which is what these teams lacked.
And the anguish of defeat is a luxury that often determines a team’s long-term success.
UCLA has been challenged this season, especially with its recent five-set MPSF semifinals loss to Pepperdine on April 25.
However, this has been a persistent theme throughout the season, since the squad experienced growing pains.
First-year coach John Hawks replaced John Speraw, who captured two national championships during his tenure, and program cornerstones middle blocker Merrick McHenry and outside hitter Ethan Champlin began their professional careers abroad.
Even with these moving pieces, the Bruins still accumulated 20 wins and defeated five top-10 teams in the process.
And the Bruins still have the talent to go the distance. Redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson and junior setter Andrew Rowan – both of whom were staple pieces on the 2024 national championship campaign and are newly minted2025 AVCA First Team All-Americans – spearhead an efficient Bruin attack that sports the third-best hitting percentage in the nation with a .367 clip.
Yet it is the Bruins’ breakout pin-hitting duo of junior Zach Rama and freshman Sean Kelly that could represent the squad’s X-factors, amassing a combined 132 kills and 15 aces across their last five outings.
UCLA has consistently grown throughconstant adversity.
And I expect them to answer the call again, especially with their backs against the wall.
Former Bruin coach John Speraw smiles from the sideline at Pauley Pavilion. (Edward Ho/Daily Bruin)
Jacob Nguyen Daily Bruin contributor Prediction: NCAA runner-up
The Bruins had all the potential in the world to win the MPSF championship.
Coming one game short may have been a decent expectation.
But losing in the semifinals to Pepperdine might have been a punch in the mouth.
UCLA finished the regular season with its worst record since 2021 – a clear sign that the gap between the reigning two-time national champions and everyone else is diminishing.
It would not faze me if the Bruins proved me wrong. However, I initially predicted UCLA would bounce back after being swept in the regular season finale by crosstown rivals USC. The squad’s faltering performance in the MPSF semifinals makes me question whether there’s enough resilience in the tank to three-peat.
The Bruins haven’t faced the Rainbow Warriors since besting them in the 2023 NCAA finals.
However, precedent is no accurate indicator of another UCLA triumph.
Nonetheless, the Bruins boast a trio of First-Team All-Americans, most notably junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne, who is coming off an 11-kill and six-block performance against the Waves.
UCLA has the chops to beat anyone, especially when you pair Thorne’s production with a trio of outside hitters in redshirt junior Cooper Robinson, junior Zach Rama and freshman Sean Kelly.
But volleyball isn’t like basketball.
Each individual set is a game of its own, and every play can typify a whole outcome.
Although past results from this season do not favor UCLA, there may be enough star power to win it all. Nonetheless, my prediction errs on the safer side.
LOS ANGELES – No. 5 USC men’s volleyball (1-0) opens league play on the road with a Thursday-night (Jan. 15) match at Vanguard (1-1). The Trojans and the Lions—also USC’s first MPSF opponent last spring—will meet at the Freed Center for Leadership in Costa Mesa for a 7 p.m. PT contest that will be shown live on Big Ten Plus. The Trojans then host EIVA foe No. 18 Princeton (0-0) on Friday (Jan. 16) at Galen Center. USC takes on the Tigers under the Galen Night Lights featuring a neon t-shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans in attendance. The USC-Princeton match is also a Kids Corner night, which features free attendance for guests under the age of 18. Visit USCTrojans.com/promos for more information.
MATCH #2 • Thursday, January 15 • 7 p.m. PT
No. 5 USC (1-0, 0-0) at Vanguard (1-1, 0-0)
Freed Center for Leadership • Costa Mesa, Calif.
SERIES RECORD: USC leads, 3-0 (1.000)
LAST MEETING: W 3-0 (Feb. 28, 2025 • Galen Center)
STREAK: Won 3 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 3-0
TV/STREAM: B1G+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: VanguardLions.com
MATCH #3 • Friday, January 16 • 7 p.m. PT
No. 5 USC (1-0) vs. No. 18 Princeton (0-0)
Galen Center • Los Angeles, Calif.
SERIES RECORD: USC leads, 5-0 (1.000)
LAST MEETING: W 3-0 (Jan. 11, 2025 • Galen Center)
STREAK: Won 5 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 5-0
TV/STREAM: B1G+ (Avi Singh & Makena Arteaga)
OPPONENT WEBSITE: GoPrincetonTigers.com
FIRST SERVE (TL;DR)
USC is led by 11th-year head coach Jeff Nygaard, a three-time Olympian in indoor and beach volleyball and a two-time NCAA champion.
The Trojans are ranked fifth in the AVCA Coaches Poll; the program’s 504th appearance in the national poll.
USC is 36-20 all-time in conference openers and defeated Vanguard in its first MPSF match in 2025 (3-0 at Freed Center for Leadership, Feb. 26).
The Trojans are 1-0 at Galen Center. Last year, they won 11 home matches. USC will play 16 times at home in 2026 and plays in Southern California for all but two regular-season matches (at BYU, April 10-11).
USC returns five players in 2026 that were recognized by the AVCA All-America committee in 2025 including first-team choice OH Dillon Klein and second-team MB Parker Tomkinson. S Caleb Blanchette, OH Sterling Foley, and LIB Johnny Dykstra each received All-America honorable mention.
The Trojans lead the MPSF (2nd in the NCAA) in opponent hitting percentage (.056) and are second in the league (4th NCAA) for hitting (.417).
LAST TIME OUT: The Trojans collected their first sweep of the season with a win over St. Thomas Aquinas at Galen Center. Dillon Klein led all players with 12 kills on 16 swings without an error to register a .750 hitting percentage. In his first action as a Trojan, Thiago Zamprogno went straight to work and collected nine kills on 10 swings (.900) to go with four blocks. Caleb Blanchette had 28 assists and shared team-high honors with Johnny Dykstra with five digs apiece.
POLL POSITION: The Trojans were ranked No. 5 in the AVCA Preseason Poll. USC ranks fifth in the Jan. 12 poll for the Trojans’ 504th time in the coaches poll. Last season, the Trojans reached fifth on Feb. 3 to mark their highest position since they were also ranked No. 5 in 2022 (April 18). On March 10, USC’s spot at No. 5 marked the 200th time the Trojans had been ranked in the poll’s top five; now 209 times. The Trojans’ reached the top three (March 24) for the first time in over 10 years and were previously ranked as high as third on Feb. 16, 2015.
EXTENDED: 11th-year head coach Jeff Nygaard had his contract extended through the 2028 season. He is the longest-tenured coach in program history and has collected 124 wins at USC. In 2025, he led the Trojans to their highest ranking in over a decade.
1K DK: OH Dillon Klein has reached double-digit kills in 62 of 79 career matches and reached the 1,000-kill mark in his career on April 17, 2025, in a match at UCLA. He now has 1,057 career kills and counting.
2K GOLD: S Caleb Blanchette crossed the 2,000-assist mark in his career in the Trojans’ season opener against St. Thomas Aquinas (Jan. 10). He dished out 28 assists in a 3-0 win over the Spartans and is now up to 2,011-career assists. In 2025, he led the MPSF—ranked fourth in the NCAA—in assists (10.61 aps) and equaled his career-high (61) twice.
RECORD HIGH: USC set a new single-match hitting record in 2025 with a .691 hitting percentage against Dominican (Feb. 8). Last seaosn, the Trojans hit north of .300 in 19 matches with 10 matches over the .400 mark. Six times, USC logged a hitting percentage higher than .450.
MOUNTAIN SPECIFICS: USC was picked to finish second in a preseason poll of Mountain Pacific Sports Federation head coaches and tied with defending league champion Pepperdine with 72 points each. The Trojans had two first-place votes while the Waves had four. UCLA also received four first-place votes and finished in first with a narrow three-point margin (75 points). In 2025, the Trojans were also chosen to finish second and went 8-4 to take second. The Men of Troy are 36-20 all-time in conference openers.
Major League Volleyball (MLV) is partnering with LTN to power live video production and distribution for its most expansive broadcast schedule to date in 2026.
With a record 50-match broadcast slate across major national networks, streaming services and local stations, the collaboration enables continued audience growth for MLV, providing fans with wider access to their favorite teams and high-quality live experiences on multiple viewing platforms.
After the unification of Major League Volleyball and Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) in 2025, MLV is continuing to elevate professional women’s volleyball in the United States.
As an evolution of PVF, its 2026 campaign will be recorded as the league’s third season following a high-growth year where broadcast coverage grew 350%. LTN will again serve as MLV’s live production and distribution partner, powering the largest media rollout in league history through a suite of on-site and remote production, live event customization and intelligent video transport services.
“We’re kicking off a milestone season for MLV with new energy, closer fan connection and our widest broadcast coverage to date,” says Rob Carolla, Vice President, Public & Media Relations at MLV. “LTN has been a vital part of our growth journey, advancing our production quality, working across any venue and enabling new graphics and viewing features to enhance the fan experience — all while simplifying customization and distribution for multiple rights partners.”
Purpose-built IP infrastructure for live sports
MLV will harness a comprehensive range of LTN production and transport services, leveraging a multi-camera setup and ultra-reliable remote transmission technologies while enabling fully centralized production from LTN’s state-of-the-art Kansas City technical operations center (TOC). LTN manages all the complexities of live event production, from announcer integration to audio mixing, replay, custom graphics insertion and playout. LTN’s purpose-built global IP network provides 99.9999% reliability and <200ms latency, providing seamless signal transport from all venues, real-time customization, and delivery to all downstream rights partners.
“We’re seeing huge growth in a new generation of dynamic, innovation-first sports leagues,” says Bryan McGuirk, Chief Revenue Officer at LTN. “With rights models evolving and demand for live events surging, MLV is a standout example of how sports organizations can harness agile production models and purpose-built IP distribution to enhance reach and monetization.”
The 2026 MLV season builds on a breakthrough year for professional volleyball broadcasting. Last year, LTN supported the league in delivering over 45 linear broadcast matches and 70 live digital events, including generating 4.7 million YouTube views, up one million year-over-year, and an All-Star Match with 455,000 viewers on CBS.
As a start to the current season, LTN also underpinned the annual MLV Draft of collegiate players, which was broadcast live on the Roku Sports Channel for the first time. The California-based studio production was managed remotely from LTN’s centralized production facility, seamlessly connecting distributed draft teams to participate with presenters in real-time from locations nationwide with ultra-low latency, IP-based video transmission.
Enhanced volleyball viewing experiences
MLV is leveraging innovative technologies, supported by LTN’s flexible video infrastructure and production expertise, to elevate fan engagement and enhance the depth of data for viewers. Its latest advances include:
An enhanced tracking system that delivers real-time ball tracking, improving officiating accuracy and powering advanced performance analytics — enabling teams and fans to better understand attacking patterns and player dynamics.
Displayed for the first time on opening weekend, viewers will see enhanced visuals including ball speed and jump height metrics on matches aired by CBS Sports, offering deeper insights into the athleticism of the game.
In another league-first, teams like the Indy Ignite will now air both home and away games in their local market outside of the national broadcast schedule, offering fans unrivaled access to their teams via local stations.
Alongside CBS Sports and the Roku Sports Channel, which aired opening weekend games this January 9, 10 and 11, MLV’s media partners include ION — the national network from The E.W. Scripps Company with exclusive rights for the championship finals — and VICE, both new for 2026. The second MLV All-Star Match will air live on CBS and Paramount+, with all other matches available via MLV’s YouTube channel and team-led local market agreements.
Molly Schotzko, an assistant professor with the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, is now serving as Washington State University’s faculty athletics representative.
On Jan. 1, Schotzko was appointed to a three-year term by President Betsy Cantwell following an extensive search process.
“Serving WSU and our student-athletes in this role is an honor and responsibility I deeply value, Schotzko said. “As a former student-athlete and now mentor to students, my experience allows me to understand the unique challenges they face. I will be an advocate for their health, well-being, and support equipping them for success in the classroom and in life.”
During her time as a WSU student, Schotzko earned four varsity letters across track and field as well as cross country and served as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee president.
As a former student-athlete and now mentor to students, my experience allows me to understand the unique challenges they face.
Molly Schotzko, assistant professor and faculty athletics representative Washington State University
“Molly has filled a vital role in bridging the university’s academic mission with the success and wellness of our student-athletes,” Cantwell said. “As a current Murrow College professor and now key advisor for intercollegiate athletics, she brings the necessary credibility, judgment, and strong commitment to academic integrity to advocate for student-athletes as scholars and members of our university community.”
The university’s faculty athletics representative acts as a liaison between the academic enterprise of the institution and its athletics program, ensuring academic standards, integrity and student-athlete welfare are maintained. The faculty athletics representative also ensures compliance with NCAA and Pac-12 regulations as well as university policies, in cooperation with the director of intercollegiate athletics and the department’s chief compliance officer.
Schotzko succeeds Nancy Swanger, who was appointed to the role of faculty athletics representative in 2017. WSU is deeply grateful to Swanger, who served in this role in three consecutive terms, for her nearly decade-long commitment and tireless advocacy for Washington State’s student-athletes.
Women’s Track & Field Rookie of the Week – Lola Gitlin
Lola Gitlin won the 3,000-meter race by more than 12 seconds at Cornell’s Southern Tier Invitational as she clocked a time of 10:37.55. Gitlin’s time is good for 24th nationally.
Women’s Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week – Lily Seyfert
Lily Seyfert placed third in the shot put at the Cornell Southern Tier Invitational with a mark of 12.72 meters, which is just shy of her top mark of 12.78 this season (17th in Division III). Seyfert also finished third in the weight throw at 16.20 meters and ranks eighth in the country after that performance.
Men’s Track & Field Rookie of the Week – Raphael Campanile
Raphael Campanile placed fifth in the pole vault with a mark of 4.50 meters at the Cornell Southern Tier Invitational on Saturday and currently ranks 25th in Division III with that performance.
HONOR ROLL
Matthew Zenker totaled 44 points on 18-of-31 shooting, to go along with nine rebounds and three steals in a 1-1 week for Ithaca. Zenker netted 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting in a 101-72 win over RIT and followed up with 24 points and eight rebounds as he shot 10-of-15 from the floor in a loss to Union.
Junior forward McNamara delivered a pair of strong performances despite setbacks against RIT and Union. Against the Tigers, she was flawless from the floor, going 3-for-3 while adding seven rebounds and two blocks. She carried that momentum into the Union matchup, coming just shy of her first career double-double with nine points and eight boards.
Shenandoah University men’s volleyball freshman Simon Bellenbaum was named the ODAC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
The York, Pennsylvania, native accumulated six solo blocks and eight digs in SU’s two matches against Randolph and Regent, with three blocks in each game and five digs versus the Royals.
Boys’ basketball: Sherando 48, Strasburg 44
STEPHENS CITY — Sherando defeated Strasburg for its fourth straight win on Monday. The Warriors are 9-4.
Girls’ basketball: Strasburg 39, Sherando 29
STRASBURG — Strasburg completed a season sweep with a win over Sherando on Monday.
The Warriors (3-11) trailed 18-7 after one quarter, 23-10 at the half and 29-22 after three quarters.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Two Keene State College student-athletes honored by the Little East Conference for their achievements accomplished for the week of January 5-11.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Freshman diver Keegan Johnson (Durham, N.H.) was named the LEC Diver of the Week and the Rookie Diver of the Week from his dives across the Owls’ final two home meets this season over the past weekend. Against Eastern Connecticut State University, Johnson placed first in the 1M diving with a score of 129.75 on Friday afternoon, and on Saturday morning against Norwich University, he placed first in the 1M diving with a score of 141.38 and first in the 3M diving with a score of 170.31.
Johnson and the Owls return to action for a double-dual meet against Brandeis University and Bridgewater State University on Saturday, January 17 at 12:00 PM.
Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Senior Eden Damis (Nashua, N.H.) was named the LEC Field Athlete of the Week from his performance at the Middlebury Snowflake Invitational on Saturday for the Owls. In the long jump, Damis posted a mark of 14.00 in the triple just for a new personal record in his final attempt of the day. His mark became the 21st best mark in NCAA Division III on the season, just one position for qualifying for nationals later this season.
Damis and the Owls return to action at the Panther Invitational I at Plymouth State University on Saturday, January 17, at 10:00 AM.
With a record 50-match broadcast slate across major national networks, streaming services and local stations, the collaboration enables continued audience growth for MLV, providing fans with wider access to their favorite teams and high-quality live experiences on multiple viewing platforms.
