UCLA Plays Two in Long Beach

LOS ANGELES – The UCLA women’s volleyball team will play two matches at the Long Beach State Tournament in The Walter Pyramid this weekend versus future Big Ten Conference foe Indiana and Long Beach State. The Bruins (2-1) will face the Hoosiers (3-0) on Friday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. (PT) and the Beach (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. (PT). Both contests are available for streaming on ESPN+.
 
UCLA (2-1) vs. Indiana (3-0)
Date: Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 – 4 p.m. (PT)
Location: Long Beach, Calif. (The Walter Pyramid)
Television: ESPN+
Talent: Matt Brown
Live Stats: uclalivestats.com
 
UCLA (2-1) at Long Beach State (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 – 7 p.m. (PT)
Location: Long Beach, Calif. (The Walter Pyramid)
Television: ESPN+
Talent: Matt Brown
Live Stats: uclalivestats.com
 
Quick Hits
· UCLA moved to 49-5 all-time in season-opening matches following its loss to LSU last Friday at the Maravich Center.
· Outside hitter Iman Ndiaye leads UCLA in kills (43), kills per set (3.31) and hitting percentage (.387) through week one.
· Peyton Dueck grabbed hold of the starting libero spot, totaling a team-high 49 digs and 3.77 digs per set in UCLA’s three matches.
· Sophomore Cheridyn Leverette starred in UCLA’s five-set win versus LSU with a career-high 17 kills (.351%) and 20.0 points.
· Reft is rotating between Ashley Mullen and Audrey Pak at the setter position during this preseason. Pak subbed in during UCLA’s win over LSU and set career highs in assists (34) and blocks (4 BA).
· The Bruins’ 2023 roster consists of seven newcomers (four freshmen, three transfers), including four who see consistent playing time: starting middle blocker Desiree Becker (Northwestern), outside hitter Carly Hendrickson (Florida), Mullen (Liberty HS) and defensive specialist Kat Lutz (Torrey Pines HS).
 
A New Era in Westwood
Alfee Reft, who was hired in December 2022 as the fourth head coach in program history, picked up his first win in a 3-2 victory in the Bruins’ second match versus LSU last Saturday. Reft came to UCLA after leading San Diego to its first-ever National Semifinal appearance in the NCAA Tournament in his third year as associate head coach. The Oxnard, Calif. native also brings Big Ten Conference experience to UCLA after serving as an assistant at the University of Illinois from 2018-19 and at the…