But before a team can secure the title, it must fight for the right to continue down the path to glory.
And now that the Bruins are here, there’s only one route forward.
After sweeping No. 2 seed Hawai’i in the semifinal, No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (22-6, 10-2 MPSF) will face No. 1 seed Long Beach State (29-3, 8-2 Big West) on Monday in the NCAA tournament final at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. A victory would give the Bruins their third consecutive and 22nd national title.
“I’m going to give my 110% and go die on the court with my brothers,” said redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson.
Redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson prepares to dig the ball. Robinson finished with nine kills and a .304 hitting percentage Saturday. (Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff)
The Southern California rivals played each other twice in the regular season, with UCLA falling both times and picking up just one set in the process – the team’s only back-to-back defeat from the same opponent this year.
Across both duels, UCLA posted a .300-plus hitting percentage, combining for 82 kills across seven sets. However, the team struggled defensively to stymie Long Beach’s serve and attack, underperforming in digs and garnering three times as many reception errors as its counterpart across the net.
“We’ve been preparing for it all year,” Robinson said. “We have a lot of stats on them. We played them twice, and it obviously didn’t go our way, but we’re so fired up and we cannot wait to play.”
In UCLA’s 2025 season finale, the squad said it will uphold a mindset that treats each and every point with the same importance – whatever the score may actually be.
“A big part of our endgame this week is that 0-0 mentality,” said junior setter Andrew Rowan. “We’ve blown a lot of leads in the past.”
Junior setter Andrew Rowan stands on the hardwood at Pauley Pavilion. Rowan posted 34 assists and six digs against No. 2 seed Hawai’i in the NCAA tournament semifinals. (Andrew Diaz/Daily Bruin)
Since the squads last faced off in February, both the Bruin and Beach lineup has shifted. On the former’s side of the court, redshirt sophomore David Decker – who contributed 14 kills in two games against Long Beach – has seen his opposite hitter spot overtaken by junior outside hitter Zach Rama, leaving space for freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly to also join the fray.
Likewise, redshirt junior middle blocker Matthew Edwards has found less time on the court and more on the bench in favor of fellow redshirt junior middle blocker Sean McQuiggan – who had been on and off the court for months nursing a shoulder injury.
But the Beach has also seen some shuffling, with injuries sidelining outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis and opposite Daniil Hershtynovich, who haven’t played since early March and mid-April, respectively.
The former, a two-time All-American, and the latter, who made this year’s All-American honorable mention list, spearheaded Long Beach’s offense against UCLA, combining for 36 kills through both games.
While only time will tell if their absences will impede the Beach’s performance against the Bruins, a constant remains for them in Long Beach setter Moni Nikolov.
Moni Nikolov, who became the second freshman to earn AVCA Player of the Year behind his brother Alex Nikolov, has paved the way for a team that dropped just three matches this season, all to top-five schools.
But Long Beach coach Alan Knipe indicated that it took some time for the whole squad to accept Moni Nikolov as the team’s ace.
“Whether everyone wants to agree with it or not, all great teams have a great player, and Moni’s our great player. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have other really, really good volleyball players on the court,” Knipe said. “But to be able to reduce or eliminate the ego and not be in conflict with your guy who is your guy is part of the maturity of the team.”
Coach John Hawks’ squad, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Hawks credited multiple players on the team, including Kelly and McQuiggan, for success in the semifinal match against Hawai’i – a philosophy in line with former UCLA coach John Speraw’s pride in a deep bench.
“We’re a family right now,” Robinson said. “Our leaders are stepping up in the right ways and just all clicking at the same time.”
No men’s volleyball program other than UCLA has ever broken into three-peat territory. Since 2012, six consecutive programs have earned back-to-back titles but have failed to win thrice.
But in his first year at the helm, Hawks has the chance to contribute to the legacy of three-title streaks established by former head coach Al Scates in the 1970s and 80s.
“I mean, shoot, it’s the stuff that dreams are made of,” Hawks said.
Hawks knows where the road in front could take them. And on Monday, his squad can take it.
“They have hearts of champions, and you can see it in just the way we play,” Hawks said.
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.
PITMAN — The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced its women’s indoor track & field weekly honors for the week ending Jan. 11
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
LUCIA GARCIA-BELTRAN • The College of New Jersey
Senior • Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley Central
Garcia-Beltran earned NJAC Track Athlete of the Week honors after setting a new program record in the 60 meters at the Lions Indoor Invitational. The senior sprinter and Rutgers transfer clocked a time of 7.63 seconds, which ranks fifth in NCAA Division III.
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
SARAH SCEPKOWSKI • The College of New Jersey
Senior • Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson
Scepkowski claimed NJAC Field Athlete of the Week recognition after clearing 1.60 meters in the high jump at the Lions Indoor Invitational. The senior’s mark ranks 20th in NCAA Division III and stands as one of the top performances in the conference this season.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
AMELIA VITALE • Farmingdale State College
Freshman • Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge
Vitale was named NJAC Rookie of the Week after posting a time of 2:30.87 in the 800 meters at the Spartan Invitational. The freshman’s performance represents the top mark in the event thus far in the NJAC this season and establishes her as the conference’s early leader in the middle-distance event.
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.
