Saturday, May 6
Fairfax, VA
2:00 PM
UCLA
vs
Hawai'i
Senior Alex Knight in action in the NCAA semifinal win over Long Beach.
Photo by: Rafael Suanes/NCAA
MVB Meets Hawai'i for NCAA Championship on Saturday
May 05, 2023 | Men's Volleyball
2023 NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship
No. 1 seed UCLA (30-2) vs. No. 2 seed Hawai'i (29-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, May. 6, 2023 – 5pm ET / 2pm PT
Location: Fairfax, Va. (EagleBank Arena)
TV: ESPN2
Talent: Paul Sunderland, Kevin Barnett
Live Stats: ncaa.com
UCLA ADVANCES TO 27th NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Top-seeded UCLA (30-2) has advanced to the NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship match for the 27th time in school history and first time since 2018. The championship match against No. 2-seeded Hawai'i (29-2) will take place on Saturday, May 6 at 5pm ET/2pm PT at EagleBank Arena on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. and will be televised live on ESPN2. The Bruins earned their way into the final after a 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) over Long Beach State in the semifinals on May 4.
BRUINS SEEKING 20th NCAA MVB TITLE
UCLA will be seeking its 20th NCAA men's volleyball title and 121st overall NCAA title. The Bruins last captured the national title in 2006 and have also won the crown in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2006. The 19 NCAA men's volleyball titles won by the Bruins are the most by any school.
FINALS MATCHUP WITH UH
Saturday's final will be the second UCLA-UH championship matchup. The first took place in 1996 in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom when UCLA defeated Hawai'i in five sets. It is the only time the two programs have met in the NCAA Tournament.
BACK TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Bruins' last championship match appearance came in 2018 in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom, a 3-2 loss to Long Beach State. UCLA last NCAA Championship match win came in 2006 over Penn State (3-0) in State College, Pa.
UCLA in the Championship Match (19-7 record):
2018 - (at UCLA): L 2-3 vs. Long Beach State
2006 - (at Penn State): W 3-0 vs. Penn State
2005 - (at UCLA): L 2-3 vs. Pepperdine
2001 - (at Long Beach St.): L 0-3 vs. BYU
2000 - (at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne): W 3-0 vs. Ohio State
1998 – (at Hawai'i): W 3-0 vs. Pepperdine
1997 – (at Ohio State): L 2-3 vs. Stanford
1996 – (at UCLA): W 3-2 vs. Hawai'i
1995 – (at Springfield, Ma.): W 3-0 vs. Penn State
1994 – (at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne): L 2-3 vs. Penn State
1993 – (at UCLA): W 3-0 vs. CSUN
1989 – (at UCLA): W 3-1 vs. Stanford
1987 – (at UCLA): W 3-0 vs. USC
1984 – (at UCLA): W 3-1 vs. Pepperdine
1983 – (at Ohio State): W 3-0 vs. Pepperdine
1982 – (at Penn State): W 3-0 vs. Penn State
1981 – (at UCSB): W 3-2 vs. USC
1980 – (at Ball State): L 1-3 vs. USC
1979 – (at UCLA): W 3-1 vs. USC
1978 – (at Ohio State): L 2-3 vs. Pepperdine
1976 – (Ball State): W 3-0 vs. Pepperdine
1975 – (at UCLA): W 3-1 vs. UC Santa Barbara
1974 – (at UC Santa Barbara): W 3-2 vs. UC Santa Barbara
1972 – (at Ball State): W 3-2 vs. San Diego State
1971 – (at UCLA): W 3-0 vs. UC Santa Barbara
1970 – (at UCLA): W 3-0 vs. Long Beach State
HEAD COACH JOHN SPERAW IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: 10-4 record
(has coached in four previous NCAA championship matches with 3-1 record)
2006 – head coach at UC Irvine (0-1 record) lost 2-3 in the semifinals to Penn State (played at Penn State)
2007 – head coach at UC Irvine (2-0 record) defeated Penn State 3-1 in semifinals; defeated Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne 3-1 in championship match (played at Ohio State)
2009 – head coach at UC Irvine (2-0 record) defeated Ohio State 3-0 in semifinals; defeated USC 3-2 in championship match (played at BYU)
2012 – head coach at UC Irvine (2-0 record) defeated Penn State 3-1 in semifinals; defeated USC 3-0 in championship match (played at USC)
2016 – head coach at UCLA (0-1 record) lost 2-3 in the semifinals to Ohio State (played at Penn State)
2018 – head coach at UCLA (2-1 record) defeated Harvard 3-1 in opening match; defeated BYU 3-1 in semifinals; lost to Long Beach State 2-3 in championship match (played at UCLA)
2022 – head coach at UCLA (1-1 record) defeated Pepperdine 3-1 in opening match; lost to Long Beach State 2-3 in semifinals (played at UCLA)
2023 – head coach at UCLA (1-0 record) defeated Long Beach State 3-0 in semifinals (played at George Mason)
2023 MILESTONES
*UCLA head coach John Speraw won three NCAA titles as the head men's volleyball coach at UC Irvine (2007, 2009, 2012). He also was an assistant coach on the UCLA men's volleyball staff under head coach Al Scates in the championship seasons of 1996, 1998 and 2000. Speraw captured two more NCAA men's volleyball titles as a Bruin player on the 1993 and 1995 teams under coach Scates.
*A Bruin win would be victory No. 31 on the season which would be the most since the Bruins went 31-1 in the 1995 championship season.
*This is UCLA's first back-to-back NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament appearances since 2005 and 2006.
*UCLA 3-0 win over Long Beach in the 2023 NCAA semifinals was the 21st sweep victory of the season which is the most since the 1995 Bruin team set a school mark with 25.
*UCLA has won 11 straight matches heading into the 2023 NCAA Championship match which is the longest streak since the 2006 team won the last 14 contests of that season on the way to the national title.
*Earlier this week, John Speraw became the first Bruin coach recognized as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Coach of the Year since Al Scates in 1998.
*Earlier this week, setter Andrew Rowan became the first Bruin recognized by the AVCA as Newcomer of the Year since Brandon Taliaferro was named the then-called Freshman of the Year in 1997.
VS. HAWAI'I IN 2023
UCLA lost a four set decision (29-27, 21-25, 25-22, 28-26) to Hawai'i in the OUTRIGGER Hotels Invitational hosted by UH in March before a crowd of over 10,000 fans. Hawai'i outhit the Bruins .273 to .268 in that contest but UCLA had more aces (6 to 5) and more blocks (11.5 to 9.5). Ido David (.325 hitting percentage) led UCLA with a season-high 21 kills. Freshman Zach Rama (12, .526), Merrick McHenry (11, .647) and Ethan Champlin (10, .032) were also in double-digit kills. Champlin tied his career-high with six block assists in the match. Libero Troy Gooch added five digs and handled all 27 serve reception attempts without error.
NCAA EXPERIENCE
Current UCLA players who have NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament experience prior to 2023 include: Opp Kyle Vom Steeg, MB J.R. Norris IV, MB Guy Genis, OH Alex Knight, MB Merrick McHenry, Opp Ido David, OH/Opp Grant Sloane, OH Ethan Champlin. OH Cole Ketrzynski, L Tory Gooch, S Andrew Rowan, OH Cooper Robinson, L Coleman McDonough each played in their first NCAA Tournament match on Thursday in the semifinal against Long Beach State.
No. 1 seed UCLA (30-2) vs. No. 2 seed Hawai'i (29-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, May. 6, 2023 – 5pm ET / 2pm PT
Location: Fairfax, Va. (EagleBank Arena)
TV: ESPN2
Talent: Paul Sunderland, Kevin Barnett
Live Stats: ncaa.com
UCLA ADVANCES TO 27th NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Top-seeded UCLA (30-2) has advanced to the NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship match for the 27th time in school history and first time since 2018. The championship match against No. 2-seeded Hawai'i (29-2) will take place on Saturday, May 6 at 5pm ET/2pm PT at EagleBank Arena on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. and will be televised live on ESPN2. The Bruins earned their way into the final after a 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) over Long Beach State in the semifinals on May 4.
BRUINS SEEKING 20th NCAA MVB TITLE
UCLA will be seeking its 20th NCAA men's volleyball title and 121st overall NCAA title. The Bruins last captured the national title in 2006 and have also won the crown in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2006. The 19 NCAA men's volleyball titles won by the Bruins are the most by any school.
FINALS MATCHUP WITH UH
Saturday's final will be the second UCLA-UH championship matchup. The first took place in 1996 in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom when UCLA defeated Hawai'i in five sets. It is the only time the two programs have met in the NCAA Tournament.
BACK TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Bruins' last championship match appearance came in 2018 in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom, a 3-2 loss to Long Beach State. UCLA last NCAA Championship match win came in 2006 over Penn State (3-0) in State College, Pa.
UCLA in the Championship Match (19-7 record):
2018 - (at UCLA): L 2-3 vs. Long Beach State
2006 - (at Penn State): W 3-0 vs. Penn State
2005 - (at UCLA): L 2-3 vs. Pepperdine
2001 - (at Long Beach St.): L 0-3 vs. BYU
2000 - (at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne): W 3-0 vs. Ohio State
1998 – (at Hawai'i): W 3-0 vs. Pepperdine
1997 – (at Ohio State): L 2-3 vs. Stanford
1996 – (at UCLA): W 3-2 vs. Hawai'i
1995 – (at Springfield, Ma.): W 3-0 vs. Penn State
1994 – (at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne): L 2-3 vs. Penn State
1993 – (at UCLA): W 3-0 vs. CSUN
1989 – (at UCLA): W 3-1 vs. Stanford
1987 – (at UCLA): W 3-0 vs. USC
1984 – (at UCLA): W 3-1 vs. Pepperdine
1983 – (at Ohio State): W 3-0 vs. Pepperdine
1982 – (at Penn State): W 3-0 vs. Penn State
1981 – (at UCSB): W 3-2 vs. USC
1980 – (at Ball State): L 1-3 vs. USC
1979 – (at UCLA): W 3-1 vs. USC
1978 – (at Ohio State): L 2-3 vs. Pepperdine
1976 – (Ball State): W 3-0 vs. Pepperdine
1975 – (at UCLA): W 3-1 vs. UC Santa Barbara
1974 – (at UC Santa Barbara): W 3-2 vs. UC Santa Barbara
1972 – (at Ball State): W 3-2 vs. San Diego State
1971 – (at UCLA): W 3-0 vs. UC Santa Barbara
1970 – (at UCLA): W 3-0 vs. Long Beach State
HEAD COACH JOHN SPERAW IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: 10-4 record
(has coached in four previous NCAA championship matches with 3-1 record)
2006 – head coach at UC Irvine (0-1 record) lost 2-3 in the semifinals to Penn State (played at Penn State)
2007 – head coach at UC Irvine (2-0 record) defeated Penn State 3-1 in semifinals; defeated Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne 3-1 in championship match (played at Ohio State)
2009 – head coach at UC Irvine (2-0 record) defeated Ohio State 3-0 in semifinals; defeated USC 3-2 in championship match (played at BYU)
2012 – head coach at UC Irvine (2-0 record) defeated Penn State 3-1 in semifinals; defeated USC 3-0 in championship match (played at USC)
2016 – head coach at UCLA (0-1 record) lost 2-3 in the semifinals to Ohio State (played at Penn State)
2018 – head coach at UCLA (2-1 record) defeated Harvard 3-1 in opening match; defeated BYU 3-1 in semifinals; lost to Long Beach State 2-3 in championship match (played at UCLA)
2022 – head coach at UCLA (1-1 record) defeated Pepperdine 3-1 in opening match; lost to Long Beach State 2-3 in semifinals (played at UCLA)
2023 – head coach at UCLA (1-0 record) defeated Long Beach State 3-0 in semifinals (played at George Mason)
2023 MILESTONES
*UCLA head coach John Speraw won three NCAA titles as the head men's volleyball coach at UC Irvine (2007, 2009, 2012). He also was an assistant coach on the UCLA men's volleyball staff under head coach Al Scates in the championship seasons of 1996, 1998 and 2000. Speraw captured two more NCAA men's volleyball titles as a Bruin player on the 1993 and 1995 teams under coach Scates.
*A Bruin win would be victory No. 31 on the season which would be the most since the Bruins went 31-1 in the 1995 championship season.
*This is UCLA's first back-to-back NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament appearances since 2005 and 2006.
*UCLA 3-0 win over Long Beach in the 2023 NCAA semifinals was the 21st sweep victory of the season which is the most since the 1995 Bruin team set a school mark with 25.
*UCLA has won 11 straight matches heading into the 2023 NCAA Championship match which is the longest streak since the 2006 team won the last 14 contests of that season on the way to the national title.
*Earlier this week, John Speraw became the first Bruin coach recognized as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Coach of the Year since Al Scates in 1998.
*Earlier this week, setter Andrew Rowan became the first Bruin recognized by the AVCA as Newcomer of the Year since Brandon Taliaferro was named the then-called Freshman of the Year in 1997.
VS. HAWAI'I IN 2023
UCLA lost a four set decision (29-27, 21-25, 25-22, 28-26) to Hawai'i in the OUTRIGGER Hotels Invitational hosted by UH in March before a crowd of over 10,000 fans. Hawai'i outhit the Bruins .273 to .268 in that contest but UCLA had more aces (6 to 5) and more blocks (11.5 to 9.5). Ido David (.325 hitting percentage) led UCLA with a season-high 21 kills. Freshman Zach Rama (12, .526), Merrick McHenry (11, .647) and Ethan Champlin (10, .032) were also in double-digit kills. Champlin tied his career-high with six block assists in the match. Libero Troy Gooch added five digs and handled all 27 serve reception attempts without error.
NCAA EXPERIENCE
Current UCLA players who have NCAA Men's Volleyball Tournament experience prior to 2023 include: Opp Kyle Vom Steeg, MB J.R. Norris IV, MB Guy Genis, OH Alex Knight, MB Merrick McHenry, Opp Ido David, OH/Opp Grant Sloane, OH Ethan Champlin. OH Cole Ketrzynski, L Tory Gooch, S Andrew Rowan, OH Cooper Robinson, L Coleman McDonough each played in their first NCAA Tournament match on Thursday in the semifinal against Long Beach State.
Players Mentioned
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OH
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MB
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MB
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OH
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