UCLA Hosts No. 22 USC for Crosstown Showdown

Saturday, October 11

Los Angeles, CA

12:00 PM (PT)

UCLA

No. 22 USC

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Cheridyn Leverette

Photo by: Ross Turteltaub

UCLA Hosts No. 22 USC for Crosstown Showdown

October 10, 2025 | Women's Volleyball

UCLA's Game Notes (PDF)USC's Game Notes (PDF)Information Guide Media Center Watch (NBC)Live Stats

UCLA (9-6, 3-2 Big Ten) vs. No. 22 USC (11-4, 2-3 Big Ten)
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 11, 12 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial)
Watch: NBC
Talent: Kevin Barnett (pxp); Holly McPeak (analyst); Heather Cox (sideline)
Live Stats: ucla.statbroadcast.com

UCLA HOSTS NO. 22 USC FOR CROSSTOWN SHOWDOWN
The UCLA women's volleyball team will host a rivalry matchup against No. 22 USC on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 12 p.m. (PT) inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. The game will be nationally broadcast on NBC with Kevin Barnett, Holly McPeak, and Heather Cox on the call.

FIRST SERVE

UCLA took down No. 14 Minnesota in straight sets on Wednesday night
This was the Bruins' first sweep over a ranked opponent since Oct. 31, 2021 (No. 8 Washington)
UCLA now has two road wins over top-15 opponents (No. 15 Penn State, No. 14 Minnesota)
Following UCLA's wins over Ohio State and No. 15 Penn State Eliana Urzua was named Freshman of the Week
Lola Schumacher was named Defensive Player of the Week following the that perfect 2-0 week
Cheridyn Leverette leads the team in scoring with 3.77 points-per-set and 3.48 kills-per-set
UCLA has dropped two straight contests, falling to No. 13 Purdue in five sets and Indiana in four
Leverette was named the Most Valuable Player of the Sun City Classic
Phekran Kong knocked down a team-high 12 kills (.450) in her UCLA debut on Sept. 20
Marianna Singletary and Kate Duffey were named to the Sun City Classic All-Tournament Team
Freshman Eliana Urzua has made an immediate impact, notching three 20+ kill performances and is UCLA's second-leading scorer at 3.28 points-per-set
Lola Schumacher leads the Big Ten in digs-per-set (4.31) and total digs (207)
Marianna Singletary ranks second in the conference for total blocks (72)
Carly Hendrickson has emerged as one of UCLA's most important players in her return from injury with a team-best 14 service aces
UCLA was ranked No. 18 in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll
UCLA posted an overall record of 14-15 (8-12 Big Ten) in its inaugural season in the Big Ten
The Bruins finished tied for 10th in the conference standings, sharing the spot with Michigan and Indiana with an 8-12 record
In 2024, UCLA went 1-5 in five-set matches, including defeats to No. 12 Minnesota, No. 16 USC, No. 3 Penn State, and No. 10 Purdue
The Bruins prevailed in a five-set thriller in the season-opener at Long Beach State
The season-opening win marked UCLA's first five-set win since its 2024 season opener
UCLA welcomes 10 newcomers (five transfers, five freshmen) for the 2025 season
Head Coach Alfee Reft enters his third season at the helm
Nick Vogel joined Coach Reft's coaching staff in the summer. Vogel spent three seasons as the head assistant for the UCLA men's volleyball program
Junior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette garnered Honorable Mention AVCA All-American acclaim after her stellar campaign
Leverette leads the Bruins in points (464), kills (435), points-per-set (4.43), and kills-per-set (4.14)
Leverette achieved double-digit kills in 20 consecutive matches from Aug. 30 to Nov. 2. She is just the fifth Bruin in the 25-point rally scoring era (2008-present) to achieve that feat
Leverette ranked sixth in the conference in kills-per-set (4.14) and 10th in total kills (435)
Five transfers bolster Alfee Reft's 2025 squad, including Maggie Li (Cal), Phekran Kong (Louisville), Zayna Meyer (Long Beach State), Marianna Singletary (Texas), and Lola Schumacher (Wisconsin)

LAST TIME OUT
UCLA women's volleyball delivered a commanding performance in Minneapolis, sweeping No. 14 Minnesota in straight sets (25-18, 25-22, 25-22) for their first ranked sweep since 2021. All-American Cheridyn Leverette led the charge with 15 kills and 17 points, while Marianna Singletary anchored the net with six blocks as the Bruins held the Gophers to a season-low .089 hitting percentage. Setter Kate Duffey contributed 36 assists and nine digs, and Maggie Li added six kills and a clutch service ace. Libero Lola Schumacher tallied 18 digs to stabilize the defense. UCLA overcame early deficits in sets two and three with timely rallies and strong blocking, handing Minnesota its first home loss since last November.

EXCELLENT ELIANA
Eliana Urzua was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week after shining in UCLA's perfect Big Ten opening weekend, delivering back-to-back standout performances. In the opener, she led the Bruins with 20 kills on a blistering .381 hitting percentage, adding five digs and two blocks for 21 total points. She followed it up with a clutch 16-kill outing against No. 15 Penn State, securing her first career double-double with 14 digs and sealing the match with a well-placed tip. Urzua led the Bruins with a team-high 36 kills across the weekend, averaging 4.00 kills per set while hitting at an impressive .313 clip.

SUPER SCHUMACHER
Lola Schumacher received Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after anchoring UCLA's back row with elite defensive play throughout the weekend, recording 21 digs in the opener and following it up with a UCLA-best 24 digs against No. 15 Penn State. She averaged 5.00 digs-per-set over the weekend.

UCLA PICKED FIFTH
UCLA was picked to finish fifth out of 18 teams in the 2025 Big Ten Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll. In its first season as a Big Ten member, UCLA women's volleyball finished 14-15 overall and 8-12 in conference play. The Bruins recorded notable wins over No. 14 Georgia Tech, No. 24 Washington, and Ohio State, while pushing several ranked opponents to five sets, including reigning NCAA National Champion Penn State. Nebraska was picked as the conference favorite, followed by Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The Cornhuskers posted a regular season record of 33-3 and finished atop the Big Ten standings with a 19-1 mark in conference play. Four Bruins earned spots on the 20-member Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team, tying Nebraska for the most selections in the league. Outside hitters Cheridyn Leverette and Maggie Li joined middle blockers Marianna Singletary and Phekran Kong in receiving the preseason honors.