Thursday, December 4
Lexington, Ky.
1:30 PM (PT)
UCLA
vs
Georgia Tech
Kate Duffey
Photo by: Mac Brown
UCLA Takes On Georgia Tech in NCAA Tournament First Round
December 02, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
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UCLA (18-12, 12-8 Big Ten) vs. Georgia Tech (16-13, 11-9 ACC)
Date/Time:ย Thursday, Dec. 4, 1:30 p.m. (PT)
Location:ย Lexington, Ky. (Historic Memorial Coliseum)
Watch:ย ESPN+
Talent:ย Dick Gabriel (pxp); Cameron Scheitzach (analyst)
Live Stats: NCAA.com
UCLA TAKES ON GEORGIA TECH IN FIRST ROUND OF NCAA TOURNAMENT
The UCLA women's volleyball team gears up for its first round matchup in the NCAA Tournament, taking on Georgia Tech on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 1:30 p.m. (PT) inside Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.
FIRST SERVE
LAST TIME OUT
UCLA closed its regular season with back-to-back five-set road victories over Michigan and Michigan State. Against Michigan, the Bruins rallied from a 2-1 deficit behind senior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette's season-high 25 kills and freshman Eliana Urzua's spark of 14 kills, while setter Kate Duffey dished 50 assists and libero Lola Schumacher anchored the defense with 20 digs. Two days later in East Lansing, UCLA again prevailed in five sets, led by Leverette's 17 kills, Urzua's 13, and Marianna Singletary's 12 with five blocks, as Duffey tallied another 50 assists and Schumacher surpassed 20 digs. Brooklyn Briscoe added nine kills, while Kat Lutz and Kiki Horne provided clutch fifth-set energy.
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POSTSEASON AWARDS
Three Bruins earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, with Cheridyn Leverette receiving the accolade for the second straight year Lola Schumacher and Marianna Singletary collecting the distinction for the first time. Leverette led the Bruins offensively with 429 kills and ranked among the conference leaders, while Schumacher topped the Big Ten in digs-per-set (4.37) and total digs (437) in her standout debut season. Singletary proved to be a reliable two-way presence, finishing second in the league in total blocks (146) while adding 257 kills at a .304 hitting percentage. Kate Duffey was recognized with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
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UCLA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Bruins return to the postseason for the first time since 2021, earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Alfee Reft. This year's bid represents UCLA's 39th overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bruins own a 94-35 (.729) all-time postseason record and have captured four national championships. In 2021, UCLA won its first two postseason contests against Fairfield and UCF, then fell to the eventual national champions, Wisconsin, in the Regional Semifinals.
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PK RETURNS FROM INJURY
Phekran Kong made a triumphant return to the court after an extended absence due to injury, immediately reasserting her presence with a commanding performance in the five-set win over Northwestern. Her impact was felt early and often, as she powered down 10 kills and anchored the net with three crucial blocks. Kong received the start at the opposite position, a spot in the lineup that has not seen a consistent starter this season. She has appeared in just 12 matches this season, but the Bruins are 9-3 when she starts. Two of those victories came against ranked opponents (No. 14 Minnesota and No. 22 USC).
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SINGLETARY SHINES
Marianna Singletary delivered one of the most impressive performances of her UCLA career, powering the Bruins to a decisive victory over Washington on Nov. 2. The Charleston, S.C. native recorded a career-high 16 kills and added four blocks, (one solo) finishing with a career-best 18.5 points. Singletary ranks top-five in the conference for total blocks (146 - 2nd) and blocks-per-set (1.29 - T5) and is now UCLA's second-leading scorer, averaging 3.11 points-per-set.
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SUPER SCHUMACHER
UCLA saw sophomore libero Lola Schumacher named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Bruins to a pair of five-set victories in the final week of the regular season. This is the second Big Ten weekly honor of the season for Schumacher. The libero surpassed the 20-dig mark in both matches last week, averaging 4.10 digs per set. She tallied 20 digs and five assists in UCLA's comeback victory over Michigan, then followed with 21 digs in the win against Michigan State. Schumacher concludes the regular season as the Big Ten leader in both digs per set (4.37) and total digs (454).
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DUFFEY DIMES
Kate Duffey recently achieved her 1,000th career assist in the match against Washington (Nov. 22). She garnered Big Ten Setter of the Week honors after orchestrating UCLA's offensive dominance by dishing out 66 assists in the team's back-to-back ranked sweeps over No. 14 Minnesota and No. 22 USC. The Bruins' setter has also been impressive on the defensive end as she posted a career-high 22 digs in the team's four set win over Washington on Nov. 2. Duffey recorded her sixth double-double of the year in that win, collecting 44 assists in addition to her 22-dig showing. She then came up with her seventh double-double in the five-set victory over Northwestern on Nov. 8, going for 41 assists and 12 digs. Against No. 1 Nebraska, Duffey tallied her eighth double-double with 45 assists and 10 digs.
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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.
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UCLA (18-12, 12-8 Big Ten) vs. Georgia Tech (16-13, 11-9 ACC)
Date/Time:ย Thursday, Dec. 4, 1:30 p.m. (PT)
Location:ย Lexington, Ky. (Historic Memorial Coliseum)
Watch:ย ESPN+
Talent:ย Dick Gabriel (pxp); Cameron Scheitzach (analyst)
Live Stats: NCAA.com
UCLA TAKES ON GEORGIA TECH IN FIRST ROUND OF NCAA TOURNAMENT
The UCLA women's volleyball team gears up for its first round matchup in the NCAA Tournament, taking on Georgia Tech on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 1:30 p.m. (PT) inside Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.
FIRST SERVE
- UCLA is set to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021
- The Bruins are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Alfee Reft
- This year's bid represents UCLA's 39th overall NCAA Tournament appearance
- UCLA comes into the tournament as a No. 8 seed
- The Bruins own a 94-35 (.729) all-time postseason record and have captured four national championships
- UCLA has won four of its last five matches
- The Bruins have won 10 consecutive matches on a neutral court. They have not lost a neutral site match since Spring 2021
- Cheridyn Leverette was selected in the fourth round (pick No. 31) of the MLV Draft by the Orlando Valkyries
- Leverette went for a season-high 25 kills in the Bruins' five-set win over Michigan (Nov. 26)
- Cheridyn Leverette, Lola Schumacher, and Marianna Singletary received First Team All-Big Ten honors
- Lola Schumacher was named B1G Defensive Player of the Week after recording back-to-back 20-dig performances
- UCLA snapped Nebraska's 48-set win streak
- In the match against No. 1 Nebraska, UCLA set a new program attendance record with a crowd of 10,498
- The Bruins were the only Big Ten team to take a set from Nebraska this season
- Phekran Kong returned from injury on Nov. 8 and recorded 10 kills at a .300 clip
- In Kong's 12 appearances, UCLA is 9-3 with a pair of ranked wins - No. 14 Minnesota, No. 22 USC
- Marianna Singletary ranks top-five in the conference for total blocks (146 - 2nd) and blocks-per-set (1.29 - T5th)
- Kate Duffey has nine double-doubles on the season
- Duffey recorded her 1,000th career assist in UCLA's match at Washington (Nov. 22)
- Maggie Li collected her 1,000th career recently, reaching the milestone on Thursday night in Eugene
- Lola Schumacher led the Big Ten in digs-per-set (4.37) and total digs (454)
- The Bruins have a total of three ranked wins this season (No. 15 Penn State, No. 14 Minnesota, No. 22 USC)
- UCLA's win over No. 14 Minnesota was its first sweep over a ranked opponent since Oct. 31, 2021 (No. 8 Washington)
- Cheridyn Leverette leads the team in scoring with 4.16 points-per-set and 3.83 kills-per-set
- Freshman Eliana Urzua has made an immediate impact, notching three 20+ kill performances and is UCLA's third-leading scorer at 2.81 points-per-set
- 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 tied for 6th in the conference standings
- In 2024, UCLA went 1-5 in five-set matches. This season, the Bruins are 6-1 in five-setters
- 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 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
- 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 closed its regular season with back-to-back five-set road victories over Michigan and Michigan State. Against Michigan, the Bruins rallied from a 2-1 deficit behind senior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette's season-high 25 kills and freshman Eliana Urzua's spark of 14 kills, while setter Kate Duffey dished 50 assists and libero Lola Schumacher anchored the defense with 20 digs. Two days later in East Lansing, UCLA again prevailed in five sets, led by Leverette's 17 kills, Urzua's 13, and Marianna Singletary's 12 with five blocks, as Duffey tallied another 50 assists and Schumacher surpassed 20 digs. Brooklyn Briscoe added nine kills, while Kat Lutz and Kiki Horne provided clutch fifth-set energy.
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POSTSEASON AWARDS
Three Bruins earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, with Cheridyn Leverette receiving the accolade for the second straight year Lola Schumacher and Marianna Singletary collecting the distinction for the first time. Leverette led the Bruins offensively with 429 kills and ranked among the conference leaders, while Schumacher topped the Big Ten in digs-per-set (4.37) and total digs (437) in her standout debut season. Singletary proved to be a reliable two-way presence, finishing second in the league in total blocks (146) while adding 257 kills at a .304 hitting percentage. Kate Duffey was recognized with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
ย
UCLA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Bruins return to the postseason for the first time since 2021, earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Alfee Reft. This year's bid represents UCLA's 39th overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bruins own a 94-35 (.729) all-time postseason record and have captured four national championships. In 2021, UCLA won its first two postseason contests against Fairfield and UCF, then fell to the eventual national champions, Wisconsin, in the Regional Semifinals.
ย
PK RETURNS FROM INJURY
Phekran Kong made a triumphant return to the court after an extended absence due to injury, immediately reasserting her presence with a commanding performance in the five-set win over Northwestern. Her impact was felt early and often, as she powered down 10 kills and anchored the net with three crucial blocks. Kong received the start at the opposite position, a spot in the lineup that has not seen a consistent starter this season. She has appeared in just 12 matches this season, but the Bruins are 9-3 when she starts. Two of those victories came against ranked opponents (No. 14 Minnesota and No. 22 USC).
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SINGLETARY SHINES
Marianna Singletary delivered one of the most impressive performances of her UCLA career, powering the Bruins to a decisive victory over Washington on Nov. 2. The Charleston, S.C. native recorded a career-high 16 kills and added four blocks, (one solo) finishing with a career-best 18.5 points. Singletary ranks top-five in the conference for total blocks (146 - 2nd) and blocks-per-set (1.29 - T5) and is now UCLA's second-leading scorer, averaging 3.11 points-per-set.
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SUPER SCHUMACHER
UCLA saw sophomore libero Lola Schumacher named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Bruins to a pair of five-set victories in the final week of the regular season. This is the second Big Ten weekly honor of the season for Schumacher. The libero surpassed the 20-dig mark in both matches last week, averaging 4.10 digs per set. She tallied 20 digs and five assists in UCLA's comeback victory over Michigan, then followed with 21 digs in the win against Michigan State. Schumacher concludes the regular season as the Big Ten leader in both digs per set (4.37) and total digs (454).
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DUFFEY DIMES
Kate Duffey recently achieved her 1,000th career assist in the match against Washington (Nov. 22). She garnered Big Ten Setter of the Week honors after orchestrating UCLA's offensive dominance by dishing out 66 assists in the team's back-to-back ranked sweeps over No. 14 Minnesota and No. 22 USC. The Bruins' setter has also been impressive on the defensive end as she posted a career-high 22 digs in the team's four set win over Washington on Nov. 2. Duffey recorded her sixth double-double of the year in that win, collecting 44 assists in addition to her 22-dig showing. She then came up with her seventh double-double in the five-set victory over Northwestern on Nov. 8, going for 41 assists and 12 digs. Against No. 1 Nebraska, Duffey tallied her eighth double-double with 45 assists and 10 digs.
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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.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's VolleyballUCLA W. Volleyball Postgame - Coach Reft & Players vs. Kentucky (Dec. 5, 2025)
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