Sunday, October 13
Los Angeles, CA
4:30 PM
UCLA
8-7,2-4Big Ten
2
at
3
No. 16 USC
12-4,4-2Big Ten
1
2
3
4
5
F
UCLA
16
25
25
21
11
2
Southern California
25
18
19
25
15
3
Cheridyn Leverette
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Bruins Edged by No. 16 USC in Five Sets
October 13, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES โ It came down to the final set on Sunday night inside a record-setting crowd at the Galen Center, but the UCLA women's volleyball team was unable to outlast No. 16 USC in a five-set thriller.
ย
Set scores were 16-25, 25-18, 25-19, 21-25, and 11-15.
ย
The Bruins (8-7, 2-4 Big Ten) rebounded from a slow start, winning sets two and three to take the lead over the nationally-ranked Trojans (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten). USC managed to regroup and win the fourth set before erasing an 8-5 UCLA lead in the final frame to snatch the victory on its home court.
ย
Freshman outside hitter Kiki Horne enjoyed her best performance in a UCLA uniform with a career-best 19 points, knocking down 17 kills and contributing three blocks (one solo).
ย
UCLA found their rhythm in the second set when Pak began connecting with A. Dodson, who recorded three kills in the frame. Two kills from Horne, combined with a service ace from Grayce Olson, ignited a 4-1 run, and the Bruins maintained their lead from that point onward. The UCLA defense tightened, limiting USC to a hitting percentage of just .065, securing the set with a 25-18 win and leveling the match at 1-1.
ย
The third set showcased Leverette's dominance, as she tallied seven kills to propel UCLA into the lead. The teams exchanged points early on until Briscoe and Horne executed a powerful block, giving the Bruins a 10-6 advantage. Although the Trojans responded with a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead, head coach Alfee Reft effectively utilized a timeout to refocus his team. Consecutive kills from Horne and an ace from Kate Reilly restored the Bruins' advantage. Kat Lutz sealed the set three victory with an ace, putting UCLA ahead.
ย
In the fourth set, the hosts built a substantial 20-9 lead, with the Bruins hitting .000. UCLA rallied behind Leverette's strong set of swings, mounting a 7-1 run to close the gap. Despite their efforts, USC held on to win the set 25-21, forcing a fifth frame.
ย
ย
In the decisive final set, UCLA initially held the momentum with a well-placed kill from Horne and a significant block from Pak and A. Dodson. Leverette added two kills before Pak's dump kill gave the Bruins an 8-5 lead at the side switch. However, the momentum shifted after the teams changed sides, and the nationally-ranked Trojans, buoyed by their record-setting crowd, surged to a 15-11 victory. UCLA now holds a 1-3 record in five-set matches this season.
ย
UCLA's road trip continues on Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. when it travels to No. 10 Purdue. The match will be available for viewing on B1G+.
ย
ย
Set scores were 16-25, 25-18, 25-19, 21-25, and 11-15.
ย
The Bruins (8-7, 2-4 Big Ten) rebounded from a slow start, winning sets two and three to take the lead over the nationally-ranked Trojans (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten). USC managed to regroup and win the fourth set before erasing an 8-5 UCLA lead in the final frame to snatch the victory on its home court.
ย
Freshman outside hitter Kiki Horne enjoyed her best performance in a UCLA uniform with a career-best 19 points, knocking down 17 kills and contributing three blocks (one solo).
Junior Cheridyn Leveretteย made it 14 straight games with double-digit kills, recording 16 on the night.
Middle blockers Anna Dodson and Brooklyn Briscoe each registered seven kills. Dodson also contributed four blocks, while Briscoe tallied three.
Senior Peyton Dueck and sophomore Sydney Breon both reached double figures in digs, with Dueck collecting 11 and Breon leading the team with 14.
Backed by their eccentric home crowd, the Trojans rallied for a 7-2 advantage in the early stages of set one. Kiki Horne and Brooklyn Briscoe collected three kills apiece in the opening set, but the Bruins were limited to a hitting percentage of .000 while USC hit .588 with four service aces to take the first frame, 25-16.ย
UCLA found their rhythm in the second set when Pak began connecting with A. Dodson, who recorded three kills in the frame. Two kills from Horne, combined with a service ace from Grayce Olson, ignited a 4-1 run, and the Bruins maintained their lead from that point onward. The UCLA defense tightened, limiting USC to a hitting percentage of just .065, securing the set with a 25-18 win and leveling the match at 1-1.
ย
The third set showcased Leverette's dominance, as she tallied seven kills to propel UCLA into the lead. The teams exchanged points early on until Briscoe and Horne executed a powerful block, giving the Bruins a 10-6 advantage. Although the Trojans responded with a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead, head coach Alfee Reft effectively utilized a timeout to refocus his team. Consecutive kills from Horne and an ace from Kate Reilly restored the Bruins' advantage. Kat Lutz sealed the set three victory with an ace, putting UCLA ahead.
ย
In the fourth set, the hosts built a substantial 20-9 lead, with the Bruins hitting .000. UCLA rallied behind Leverette's strong set of swings, mounting a 7-1 run to close the gap. Despite their efforts, USC held on to win the set 25-21, forcing a fifth frame.
ย
????????. ??????????. ??
โ UCLA Women's Volleyball (@UCLAWomensVB) October 14, 2024
???@BigTenNetwork
??https://t.co/j0d3I6jgvk#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/K2FW6UvRLm
ย
In the decisive final set, UCLA initially held the momentum with a well-placed kill from Horne and a significant block from Pak and A. Dodson. Leverette added two kills before Pak's dump kill gave the Bruins an 8-5 lead at the side switch. However, the momentum shifted after the teams changed sides, and the nationally-ranked Trojans, buoyed by their record-setting crowd, surged to a 15-11 victory. UCLA now holds a 1-3 record in five-set matches this season.
ย
UCLA's road trip continues on Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. when it travels to No. 10 Purdue. The match will be available for viewing on B1G+.
ย
Team Stats
UCLA
USC
Kills
52
50
Errors
32
22
Attempts
145
138
Hitting %
.138
.203
Points
67.0
72.5
Assists
48
48
Aces
6
10
Blocks
9
12.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballHighlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. Penn State (Sept. 28, 2025)
Sunday, September 28
Highlights - W. Volleyball at Ohio State (Sept. 26, 2025)
Saturday, September 27
Highlights - W. Volleyball at Ohio State (Sept. 26, 2025)
Friday, September 26
UCLA W. Volleyball Postgame - Oregon (Nov. 29, 2024)
Friday, November 29