Saturday, November 8
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
14-10,8-6Big Ten
3
vs
2
Northwestern
15-11,5-9Big Ten
1
2
3
4
5
F
Northwestern
18
25
14
25
16
2
UCLA
25
20
25
16
18
3
Lola Schumacher
Photo by: UCLA Athletics
UCLA Outlasts Northwestern in Five-Set Battle
November 08, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES – Phekran Kong's return sparked a dominant start and Cheridyn Leverette delivered the final blow, as UCLA outlasted Northwestern in a five-set thriller to cap a Saturday night of late-set drama at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial.
Set scores were 25-18, 20-25, 25-14, 16-25, 18-16.
In a dramatic fifth set filled with momentum swings and match points on both sides, UCLA (14-10, 8-6 Big Ten) held firm down the stretch, as Leverette delivered back-to-back kills to seal the win and preserve the Bruins' unbeaten record against Northwestern (15-11, 5-9 Big Ten). The Bruins are now 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats.
Kong shined in her return to the floor after missing an extended period due to injury, putting down 10 kills and three blocks on the night.
Maggie Li erupted for five clutch kills in the decisive fifth set, capping a standout performance as UCLA's top scorer with 15 kills and 17.5 points. She also notched a double-double, adding 10 digs to her stat line in the win.
Brooklyn Briscoe posted a career-high nine blocks and added six kills to round out a dominant two-way performance and fellow middle blocker Marianna Singletary matched her impact with nine kills and six blocks of her own, finishing with 12 points in a well-rounded outing.
Lola Schumacher was just one dig shy of her season-high with 23 in the contest. UCLA's libero also came up with a clutch kill in the fifth set to gain momentum for her team.
At the setter position, Kate Duffey recorded her seventh double-double of the year with 41 assists and 12 digs.
Leverette tallied 13 kills, seven digs, and two blocks for 15 total points.
UCLA opened the match with a statement, racing out to a 7-3 lead behind two blocks and a kill from Kong, making her return after missing six games due to injury. The Bruins extended their advantage with a 3-0 run fueled by two kills from a surging Leverette. A thunderous kill from Singletary and a block by Li capped another three-point burst, forcing a Northwestern timeout with UCLA up 17-9. The Wildcats responded with a late 4-0 run, but the Bruins held firm, hitting .235 as a team and riding Kong's three kills to a 25-18 first-set win.
UCLA carried its momentum into the second, jumping out to a 5-1 lead behind kills from Kong and Singletary. Northwestern clawed back, winning four of the next five points to cut the deficit to one. A 5-0 UCLA run restored the cushion at 14-8, but the Wildcats countered with a seven-point surge to take a 16-15 lead, prompting a Bruins timeout. Singletary broke the run with a kill, but Northwestern maintained control, closing out the set 25-20 to even the match. UCLA hit just .081 in the frame, struggling to handle Northwestern's service pressure and unable to find offensive rhythm.
The Bruins bounced back in the third, storming out to an 8-1 lead behind two kills apiece from Kong and Li. Li added a block to her tally, while Sophia Schumacher's floating ace pushed the margin to 13-6. Leverette followed with a block and kill to spark another 3-0 run, forcing a Northwestern timeout. Kong continued her dominance, reaching double-digit kills as UCLA cruised to a 25-14 win and a 2-1 match lead.
Northwestern flipped the script in the fourth, opening with a 5-0 run. Singletary finally broke through with a kill, and Li followed with a kill and block to cut the deficit to four. A three-point burst from the Wildcats extended their lead to 11-4. UCLA responded with a 4-0 run, featuring a Li kill and ace, plus back-to-back blocks from Briscoe and Anastasija Ivkovic, to pull within three. But Northwestern regained momentum with another 4-0 run and rolled to a 25-16 win, forcing a decisive fifth set.
The final frame delivered drama from start-to-finish. UCLA thought it had taken a 3-1 lead, but a successful Northwestern challenge reversed the call and the set would go to 2-2. Singletary answered with a massive kill, and after a brief Wildcats lead, a block from Duffey and a Leverette kill kept UCLA close. Schumacher's clutch kill gave the Bruins an 8-7 edge at the side switch, part of a 5-0 run that seized control. Northwestern responded with a challenge and a 3-0 run to tie it at 10-10. Li delivered back-to-back kills to push UCLA ahead 13-12, and a huge block from Duffey and Briscoe brought up match point. Northwestern fought off two match points and earned one of its own at 15-14, but UCLA answered again when Li put away a critical kill. An attacking error form the Wildcats brought another chance to seal it for the Bruins, but the visitors managed to fend it off. However, Leverette delivered the finishing blows when she forced another match point, then hammered home the final kill to seal the back-and-forth battle, 18-16.
The Bruins return to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. (PT) to host the nation's top team, No. 1 Nebraska. The match will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.
Set scores were 25-18, 20-25, 25-14, 16-25, 18-16.
In a dramatic fifth set filled with momentum swings and match points on both sides, UCLA (14-10, 8-6 Big Ten) held firm down the stretch, as Leverette delivered back-to-back kills to seal the win and preserve the Bruins' unbeaten record against Northwestern (15-11, 5-9 Big Ten). The Bruins are now 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats.
Kong shined in her return to the floor after missing an extended period due to injury, putting down 10 kills and three blocks on the night.
Maggie Li erupted for five clutch kills in the decisive fifth set, capping a standout performance as UCLA's top scorer with 15 kills and 17.5 points. She also notched a double-double, adding 10 digs to her stat line in the win.
Brooklyn Briscoe posted a career-high nine blocks and added six kills to round out a dominant two-way performance and fellow middle blocker Marianna Singletary matched her impact with nine kills and six blocks of her own, finishing with 12 points in a well-rounded outing.
Lola Schumacher was just one dig shy of her season-high with 23 in the contest. UCLA's libero also came up with a clutch kill in the fifth set to gain momentum for her team.
At the setter position, Kate Duffey recorded her seventh double-double of the year with 41 assists and 12 digs.
Leverette tallied 13 kills, seven digs, and two blocks for 15 total points.
UCLA opened the match with a statement, racing out to a 7-3 lead behind two blocks and a kill from Kong, making her return after missing six games due to injury. The Bruins extended their advantage with a 3-0 run fueled by two kills from a surging Leverette. A thunderous kill from Singletary and a block by Li capped another three-point burst, forcing a Northwestern timeout with UCLA up 17-9. The Wildcats responded with a late 4-0 run, but the Bruins held firm, hitting .235 as a team and riding Kong's three kills to a 25-18 first-set win.
UCLA carried its momentum into the second, jumping out to a 5-1 lead behind kills from Kong and Singletary. Northwestern clawed back, winning four of the next five points to cut the deficit to one. A 5-0 UCLA run restored the cushion at 14-8, but the Wildcats countered with a seven-point surge to take a 16-15 lead, prompting a Bruins timeout. Singletary broke the run with a kill, but Northwestern maintained control, closing out the set 25-20 to even the match. UCLA hit just .081 in the frame, struggling to handle Northwestern's service pressure and unable to find offensive rhythm.
The Bruins bounced back in the third, storming out to an 8-1 lead behind two kills apiece from Kong and Li. Li added a block to her tally, while Sophia Schumacher's floating ace pushed the margin to 13-6. Leverette followed with a block and kill to spark another 3-0 run, forcing a Northwestern timeout. Kong continued her dominance, reaching double-digit kills as UCLA cruised to a 25-14 win and a 2-1 match lead.
Northwestern flipped the script in the fourth, opening with a 5-0 run. Singletary finally broke through with a kill, and Li followed with a kill and block to cut the deficit to four. A three-point burst from the Wildcats extended their lead to 11-4. UCLA responded with a 4-0 run, featuring a Li kill and ace, plus back-to-back blocks from Briscoe and Anastasija Ivkovic, to pull within three. But Northwestern regained momentum with another 4-0 run and rolled to a 25-16 win, forcing a decisive fifth set.
The final frame delivered drama from start-to-finish. UCLA thought it had taken a 3-1 lead, but a successful Northwestern challenge reversed the call and the set would go to 2-2. Singletary answered with a massive kill, and after a brief Wildcats lead, a block from Duffey and a Leverette kill kept UCLA close. Schumacher's clutch kill gave the Bruins an 8-7 edge at the side switch, part of a 5-0 run that seized control. Northwestern responded with a challenge and a 3-0 run to tie it at 10-10. Li delivered back-to-back kills to push UCLA ahead 13-12, and a huge block from Duffey and Briscoe brought up match point. Northwestern fought off two match points and earned one of its own at 15-14, but UCLA answered again when Li put away a critical kill. An attacking error form the Wildcats brought another chance to seal it for the Bruins, but the visitors managed to fend it off. However, Leverette delivered the finishing blows when she forced another match point, then hammered home the final kill to seal the back-and-forth battle, 18-16.
The Bruins return to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. (PT) to host the nation's top team, No. 1 Nebraska. The match will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
NU
UCLA
Kills
62
56
Errors
27
26
Attempts
185
160
Hitting %
.189
.188
Points
73.0
75.0
Assists
56
54
Aces
4
4
Blocks
7
15
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballHighlights - UCLA W. Volleyball vs. Northwestern (Nov. 8, 2025)
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