Sunday, September 29
Los Angeles, CA
1:00 PM
UCLA
7-4,1-1Big Ten
3
vs
1
Ohio State
7-5,0-2Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Ohio St.
16
22
25
14
1
UCLA
25
25
23
25
3
Cheridyn Leverette
Photo by: Jesus Ramirez
Bruins Defeat Ohio State to Earn First-Ever Big Ten Win
September 29, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA women's volleyball team earned its first-ever Big Ten Conference victory after taking down Ohio State in four sets on Sunday afternoon inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
Set scores were 25-16, 25-22, 23-25, and 25-14
The Bruins (7-4, 1-1 Big Ten) delivered an outstanding all-around performance in front of their home fans, outmatching Ohio State (7-5, 0-2 Big Ten) across nearly every statistical category. UCLA's defensive prowess was on full display with 15 total blocks, with graduate middle blocker Anna Dodson leading the effort with a game-high seven blocks.
"First Big Ten win for UCLA women's volleyball and it was a nice win against a great team," said head coach Alfee Reft. "I thought our team did a great job putting pressure on them from the end line. I thought our team did really nice job with the scout and adapting to some changes they made in the third set."
Enjoying her best performance in a UCLA uniform was graduate middle hitter Leilani Dodson, who tallied a season-high 10 kills at an outstanding .444 clip. She impressed on the defensive end as well, coming up with six total blocks.
Junior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette made it 10 straight matches in double figures, putting down 17 kills on the day and freshman Kiki Horne reached double-digits for the seventh time, racking up 12 on the day.
Graduate setter Audrey Pak posted her first double-double since Sept. 1, dishing out 38 assists and snuffing out 14 digs. The Moraga, Calif. native facilitated a UCLA offense that hit .254 for the match, including a .467 mark in the final set.
UCLA received a spark from sophomore defensive specialist Kat Lutz in the early stages when she held the service line for five consecutive points, propelling her team into the lead. L. Dodson and Olson were able to team up for three blocks apiece, helping the Bruins hold the Buckeyes to a hitting percentage of just .054 on their way to a 25-16 set one victory.
The Bruins' initial 2-0 lead in the second set was quickly overturned by a 3-0 run from the Buckeyes. Nevertheless, UCLA responded resiliently, leveling the score at 15-15 following an extended rally, which was kept alive by a remarkable pancake save from Peyon Dueck and concluded with a powerful swing from Leverette. The teams continued to exchange points in a closely contested set, but UCLA ultimately capitalized on Ohio State's 10 attack errors, finishing the set on a 5-0 run to secure a 2-0 advantage in the match.
The visitors made some adjustments in the third set that ultimately led them to victory. UCLA posted a hitting percentage of just .114 after committing nine attacking errors, and despite hanging for three set points, the Buckeyes scored the final point to force a fourth frame.
L. Dodson led off the final set with a big swing to set the tone. Horne punished an overpass to thrust the Bruins into the lead and A. Dodson started to take over, tallying two kills and a pair of blocks to win four straight points, forcing an Ohio State timeout. Leverette caught fire by slamming down three consecutive kills and UCLA coasted the rest of the way, grabbing the last set 25-14 to clinch its first win of Big Ten play.
UCLA will remain at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom for its next match against No. 16 Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. The match will be available for viewing on B1G+.
Set scores were 25-16, 25-22, 23-25, and 25-14
The Bruins (7-4, 1-1 Big Ten) delivered an outstanding all-around performance in front of their home fans, outmatching Ohio State (7-5, 0-2 Big Ten) across nearly every statistical category. UCLA's defensive prowess was on full display with 15 total blocks, with graduate middle blocker Anna Dodson leading the effort with a game-high seven blocks.
"First Big Ten win for UCLA women's volleyball and it was a nice win against a great team," said head coach Alfee Reft. "I thought our team did a great job putting pressure on them from the end line. I thought our team did really nice job with the scout and adapting to some changes they made in the third set."
Enjoying her best performance in a UCLA uniform was graduate middle hitter Leilani Dodson, who tallied a season-high 10 kills at an outstanding .444 clip. She impressed on the defensive end as well, coming up with six total blocks.
Junior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette made it 10 straight matches in double figures, putting down 17 kills on the day and freshman Kiki Horne reached double-digits for the seventh time, racking up 12 on the day.
Graduate setter Audrey Pak posted her first double-double since Sept. 1, dishing out 38 assists and snuffing out 14 digs. The Moraga, Calif. native facilitated a UCLA offense that hit .254 for the match, including a .467 mark in the final set.
UCLA received a spark from sophomore defensive specialist Kat Lutz in the early stages when she held the service line for five consecutive points, propelling her team into the lead. L. Dodson and Olson were able to team up for three blocks apiece, helping the Bruins hold the Buckeyes to a hitting percentage of just .054 on their way to a 25-16 set one victory.
The Bruins' initial 2-0 lead in the second set was quickly overturned by a 3-0 run from the Buckeyes. Nevertheless, UCLA responded resiliently, leveling the score at 15-15 following an extended rally, which was kept alive by a remarkable pancake save from Peyon Dueck and concluded with a powerful swing from Leverette. The teams continued to exchange points in a closely contested set, but UCLA ultimately capitalized on Ohio State's 10 attack errors, finishing the set on a 5-0 run to secure a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Look at the ?????????? in this team ??
— UCLA Women's Volleyball (@UCLAWomensVB) September 29, 2024
??@BigTenPlus
??https://t.co/Lu6RYOtrXz#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/RO3YLF7d7e
The visitors made some adjustments in the third set that ultimately led them to victory. UCLA posted a hitting percentage of just .114 after committing nine attacking errors, and despite hanging for three set points, the Buckeyes scored the final point to force a fourth frame.
L. Dodson led off the final set with a big swing to set the tone. Horne punished an overpass to thrust the Bruins into the lead and A. Dodson started to take over, tallying two kills and a pair of blocks to win four straight points, forcing an Ohio State timeout. Leverette caught fire by slamming down three consecutive kills and UCLA coasted the rest of the way, grabbing the last set 25-14 to clinch its first win of Big Ten play.
UCLA will remain at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom for its next match against No. 16 Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. The match will be available for viewing on B1G+.
Team Stats
OSU
UCLA
Kills
41
54
Errors
30
22
Attempts
127
126
Hitting %
.087
.254
Points
51.0
71.0
Assists
39
48
Aces
2
2
Blocks
8
15
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ 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