Sports

UCLA men’s volleyball 2025 NCAA tournament predictions

Published

8 months ago

May 7, 2025

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]

And I was exactly right to say that.

UCLA won 10 in a row before getting swept by then-No. 13 Grand Canyon on April 4. And following 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: At the MPSF tournament, the best team doesn’t always win, and there isn’t always a fairytale ending.

[Related: UCLA men’s volleyball 2025 MPSF championship predictions]

It is evident that UCLA isn’t the best team in the country, with powerhouses Long Beach State and Hawai’i idling 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.

[Related: UCLA men’s volleyball seeks 3-peat championship run amid coach, roster changes]

This is evidenced 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.

Since UCLA 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 minted 2025 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 through constant 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.

[Related: UCLA men’s volleyball 2025 MPSF championship predictions]

Assuming No. 3 seed UCLA trumps No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey, No. 2 Hawai’i likely awaits.

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.

At least, until the Bruins can prove me wrong.

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Sports

Cedar Rapids wrestler chases her dream, from a volleyball player to a young star in the sport

Published

2 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Your Sports Nation

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – When Maggie Peters is home, she’s locked in.

She lifts weights at a gym in her hometown of Cedar Rapids. But it’s not just for strength – it’s for safety.

“One things goes wrong, and you’ve got people’s lives in your hands,” she said. “I mean, you don’t want to drop somebody on their head.”

But more often than not, Peters is on the road. Her sport is professional wrestling.

She’s performed performed in front of thousands in arenas and on television. Her fights may be scripted, but her dream of reaching WWE is real.

Peters has a background in volleyball, playing at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Kirkwood Community College and Mount Mercy. But her dream has always been in the wrestling ring.

“I wanted to do it right when I started watching I wanna say I was eight or nine I would just go wrestle on my trampoline,” Peters said.

She went from the volleyball court at Mount Mercy to a wrestling school in Davenport.

“We would have a show on a Thursday night, so I would leave class early,” said Peters. “But at that point, I will say, my senior year was my worst year of school. Once I got the wrestling training done, I was like, ‘ooh, this is what I want to do.’”

In professional wrestling, the winner and loser are predetermined, unlike traditional sports.

“Pro wrestling, I will say, is like a dance,” Peters said.

But there’s nothing fake about the pain wrestlers endure, what they call “bumps.”

“Any time you get put down on the mat, you’re taking a bump. You’re hitting the top of your back,” Peters said. “Higher on your neck, sometimes, (is) not good.”

Maggie wrestles in independent shows across the Midwest under the ring name Maggie Lee. She also performs in front of thousands in TNA Wrestling as the villainous character “M By Elegance.”

“Yeah, I do like being the bad guy,” Peters said. “I’ve worked a mix of both the bad guy and the good guy on the independents. But everybody was like, ‘you look more like you as the bad guy.’ I was like, ‘gee, thanks,” Peters said.

TNA – Total Nonstop Action – is high-level televised professional wrestling, one step below WWE.

“I actually really love the whole TV aspect. It’s very organized. Being able to see myself on TV is really cool,” Peters laughed.

Maggie hopes a full-time contract with WWE is next. She’s banking on it, writing a card to her mother labeled “open when I’m in the WWE.”

“And it was one of many letters. I made them for her birthday,” Peters said.

When asked about the letter’s contents, Peters said she doesn’t remember what she wrote as a girl.

“I don’t even remember what’s in it, so I’m kind of like scared,” she said. “When she does open it, I feel like it’s going to be a big deal and I might get embarrassed.”

Sometimes she’s flying high, sometimes she’s taking bumps.

Either way, she’s racing towards her dream.

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Sports

Men’s Volleyball vs Jessup on 1/6/2026 – Box Score

Published

2 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Your Sports Nation

—

UCSD subs: Chandler, Luke; Stewart, Tyler; Hornyak, Ethan.

—

JU subs: Petesch, Riley.

0-1

[Marks, Colin] Kill by Ewert, Josh (from Luers, John).

[Marks, Colin] Kill by Ewert, Josh (from Luers, John).

UCSD

1-1

[Pravednikov, Leo] Kill by Henning, Owen (from Marks, Colin).

1-2

[Lopuch, Jan] Kill by Ewert, Josh (from Luers, John).

UCSD

2-2

[Sani, Sebastiano] Kill by Knudsen, Jacob (from Marks, Colin).

2-3

[Henning, Owen] Kill by Pravednikov, Leo (from Luers, John).

UCSD

3-3

[Wiemelt, Leo] Kill by Knudsen, Jacob (from Marks, Colin).

3-4

[Depue, Carter] Service error.

UCSD

4-4

[Luers, John] Kill by Depue, Carter (from Marks, Colin).

4-5

[Knudsen, Jacob] Kill by Pravednikov, Leo (from Luers, John).

UCSD

5-5

[Ewert, Josh] Kill by Lopuch, Jan (from Marks, Colin).

6-5

[Osahon Jr., Clement] Kill by Henning, Owen.

6-6

[Osahon Jr., Clement] Kill by Ewert, Josh (from Luers, John).

UCSD

7-6

[Selcho, Peter] Kill by Marks, Colin (from Lopuch, Jan).

7-7

[Marks, Colin] Kill by Pravednikov, Leo (from Luers, John).

UCSD

7-8

[Pravednikov, Leo] Attack error by Depue, Carter (block by Wiemelt, Leo; Luers, John).

UCSD

7-9

[Pravednikov, Leo] Kill by Sani, Sebastiano (from Wiemelt, Leo).

UCSD

8-9

[Pravednikov, Leo] Bad set by Luers, John.

8-10

[Lopuch, Jan] Kill by Sani, Sebastiano (from Luers, John).

UCSD

8-11

[Sani, Sebastiano] Service ace (Marks, Logan).

UCSD

9-11

[Sani, Sebastiano] Service error.

9-12

[Henning, Owen] Kill by Ewert, Josh (from Luers, John).

UCSD

9-13

[Wiemelt, Leo] Attack error by Osahon Jr., Clement (from Marks, Colin).

UCSD

10-13

[Wiemelt, Leo] Attack error by Sani, Sebastiano (from Luers, John).

10-14

[Depue, Carter] Kill by Pravednikov, Leo (from Luers, John).

UCSD

11-14

[Luers, John] Service error.

12-14

[Knudsen, Jacob] Kill by Osahon Jr., Clement.

12-15

[Knudsen, Jacob] Kill by Ewert, Josh (from Luers, John).

UCSD

13-15

[Ewert, Josh] Kill by Lopuch, Jan (from Marks, Colin).

13-16

[Osahon Jr., Clement] Kill by Sani, Sebastiano (from Luers, John).

—

UCSD subs: Hornyak, Ethan.

UCSD

13-17

[Hornyak, Ethan] Kill by Wiemelt, Leo (from Luers, John).

UCSD

14-17

[Hornyak, Ethan] Kill by Depue, Carter (from Marks, Colin).

14-18

[Marks, Colin] Kill by Sani, Sebastiano (from Luers, John).

UCSD

15-18

[Pravednikov, Leo] Kill by Henning, Owen (from Marks, Colin).

—

JU subs: Mueller, Jonas.

16-18

[Lopuch, Jan] Attack error by Sani, Sebastiano (block by Depue, Carter; Henning, Owen).

17-18

[Lopuch, Jan] Attack error by Sani, Sebastiano (block by Depue, Carter; Henning, Owen).

18-18

[Lopuch, Jan] Kill by Depue, Carter (from Marks, Logan).

18-19

[Lopuch, Jan] Kill by Ewert, Josh (from Luers, John).

UCSD

19-19

[Sani, Sebastiano] Kill by Mueller, Jonas (from Marks, Colin).

20-19

[Henning, Owen] Kill by Depue, Carter (from Marks, Colin).

20-20

[Henning, Owen] Service error.

—

UCSD subs: Stewart, Tyler; Chandler, Luke.

UCSD

21-20

[Stewart, Tyler] Attack error by Chandler, Luke (block by Depue, Carter; Mueller, Jonas; Osahon Jr., Clement).

22-20

[Depue, Carter] Attack error by Selcho, Peter (block by Osahon Jr., Clement).

23-20

[Depue, Carter] Attack error by Pravednikov, Leo (from Luers, John).

23-21

[Depue, Carter] Kill by Ewert, Josh (from Luers, John).

UCSD

23-22

[Luers, John] Kill by Pravednikov, Leo (from Ewert, Josh).

UCSD

24-22

[Luers, John] Kill by Lopuch, Jan (from Marks, Colin).

25-22

[Knudsen, Jacob] Attack error by Pravednikov, Leo (block by Marks, Colin).

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Sports

Former CU volleyball star Sis Tebrake glad to be back in Omaha

Published

2 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Your Sports Nation

OMAHA (KMTV) — She might have a new name, but Norah (Sis) Tebrake still brings the same infectious smile to the court.

The former CU volleyball star is now married to former Creighton baseball standout Dylan Tebrake.

“He’s always encouraging me and challenging me,” said Norah. “And I try to do the same for him. I think it’s such a cool dynamic.”

After spending her first pro season helping Orlando to a league title, Norah had now returned to Omaha to play for the Supernovas. But returning to her hometown actually did take some getting used to again.

“I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold,” Tebrake said. “But now coming back after spending just one winter away, I feel like I can’t handle the cold.”

Along with reuniting with some former Bluejays, Tebrake has also formed friendships with her former rivals and now current teammates, including ex-NU star Merritt Beason.

“She’s just so joyful and leads with so much grace and so much love,” said Beason. “You can see that in her play. She’s one of the best people that I’ve ever met and it’s been so fun getting to know her.”

“To have people that know just kind of what makes you tick and what you need on the court and off the court is super helpful,” Tebrake said. “Obviously we’re all learning that about each other but just to come in knowing that there’s people that already know that about me has been super comforting.”

The Novas host San Diego in the season opener on Thursday at 7 PM at CHI Health Center.

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South Shore High School Girls Volleyball All-Scholastics for 2025

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Jan. 7, 2026, 4:01 a.m. ET

After a strong 2024 fall season, high school girls volleyball on the South Shore had an even better one in 2025.

There were two local state-championship-winning teams on the court this year. Oliver Ames finished off the best season in program history by winning it’s first-ever Division 2 state title in it’s second ever appearance (which came last season). On the same day, East Bridgewater followed that up with a program-first of their own, winning it’s first-ever Division 4 state championship in it’s first appearance.

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Who is the volleyball player of the year in the Montgomery area, vote

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Jan. 7, 2026, 4:05 a.m. CT

The high school volleyball season in the Montgomery area ended in late October with two area teams making pushes for state finals in Class 4A and 5A.

Prattville Christian and Montgomery Catholic ultimately fell short in the respective title matches, but it highlighted what was a successful season in the Montgomery area.

What made the high school volleyball season successful in the Montgomery area was the talent on the court.

With the calendar year turning to 2026, the Montgomery Advertiser wants to hear from the readers on which player is the best in the Montgomery area. Voting will last through Jan. 14 till noon.

2025 Montgomery area volleyball player of the year nominees

Joi McGuire, Montgomery Catholic

McGuire recorded 448 kills in the 2025 season despite the fact that she’s considered undersized at her position at 5-foot-6. McGuire was a well-rounded player on the court, not only did she chip in on the offensive side, but she contributed 512 digs on the season.

Kaci Armistead, Montgomery Academy

Armistead reached the milestone of 1,000-career digs and broke the school record in the 2025 season. Her defensive expertise led to 648 digs and 70 assists on the year. From the serving line, Armistead landed 108 aces to round out her performance.

Baylee Rogers, Prattville Christian

Rogers became the first player in school history to record 5,000 assists, landing on the AHSAA leaderboard at sixth in career assists. In the 2025 season alone, Rogers contributed 1,247 assists along with three other state lines that touched triple digits.

Elaisa Vazquez, Pike Road

As a setter, Vazquez checked all the boxes necessary in the 2025 season, grabbing 405 assists and 206 digs. Vazquez chipped in on the scoreboard with 48 kills and 26 aces, winning Pike Road’s Hard Hat award for the 2025 season.

Ellie Causey, Trinity Presbyterian

Causey played her role as a setter for the Wildcats very well, notching 890 assists and 283 digs in the 2025 season. Causey brought her career totals to 1978 assists, 525 digs, 140 aces and 121 kills.

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Sports

Asya Akbulut Signs with Vikings Ahead of 2026 Season

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Your Sports Nation

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland State volleyball program added an experienced setter to its 2026 roster in Asya Akbulut Tuesday.

Akbulut, a native of Ankara, Turkey, will be a senior for the Vikings this coming fall after spending her first three years at Southern Utah (one year) and Eastern Arizona (two years).

Akbulut led Southern Utah with 5.0 assists per set last season when she ranked seventh in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in the category. As a sophomore at Eastern Arizona, Akbulut averaged 5.16 assists and 0.42 aces per set when she was named to the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference D1 All-Region First Team.

“Asya has the experience and skills to have an impact on our program immediately,” Portland State head volleyball coach Michael Seemann said. “She has reliable hands and location and understands how to put her hitters in good situations.”

Akbulut joins a setter group that includes returning starter Ava Blascziek and junior Elisabeth Levick.

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