Thursday, September 11
El Paso, TX
5:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
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at
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UTEP
6-1,0-0CUSA
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3
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UCLA
25
25
25
3
UTEP
18
20
20
0
Photo by: Mac Brown
Bruins Blaze Past UTEP in Statement Sweep to Open Sun City Classic
September 11, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
EL PASO, Texas โย No. 24 UCLA women's volleyball opened the Sun City Classic with a statement sweep, taking down UTEP in straight sets Thursday night at Memorial Gym to get back in the win column.
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Set scores were 25-18, 25-20, 25-20.
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The Bruins (2-3) delivered their most efficient offensive performance of the season, hitting at a sharp .330 clip. Behind relentless serving pressure, UCLA consistently disrupted UTEP's rhythm and held the previously unbeaten Miners (6-1) to a .244 hitting percentage, well below their season average of .307. With the sweep, UCLA hands the tournament hosts their first loss of the year.
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Cheridyn Leverette shined in the win by collecting a game-high 13 kills at a stellar .400 clip. The Bruins received a huge performance from middle blocker Marianna Singletary, who tallied 10 kills (.381) with a pair of blocks.
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Carly Hendrickson hit an efficient .471 while collecting a career-best nine kills while Brooklyn Briscoe connected on eight of her 12 swings on the night.
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At the setter position, Kate Duffey turned in an excellent performance, setting a new career-high with 36 assists. Kat Lutz got the start at libero and racked up 10 digs to lead all players.
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After UTEP briefly rallied for a 3-0 run to take an early lead in the opening set, UCLA responded with a dominant stretch fueled by an efficient offensive attack. Leverette, Singletary, and Hendrickson each delivered timely kills, and Briscoe hammered an overpass to ignite a 3-0 run that forced a UTEP timeout at 17-15. The Bruins kept their foot on the gas with a 4-0 burst punctuated by a block from Hendrickson and Singletary. Hendrickson then delivered back-to-back service aces, followed by kills from Eliana Urzua and Briscoe to close out the set. UCLA hit a blistering .438 in the frame to take the opening set for the first time this season.
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UCLA battled through a back-and-forth second set before pulling away late with a decisive scoring run. The Bruins gained early momentum with a service ace from Duffey and kills from Singletary, Urzua, and Leverette. Singletary capitalized on an another UTEP overpass, and Hendrickson capped a 3-0 run to give UCLA an 11-10 lead. After UTEP responded with a run of its own, UCLA surged ahead again behind back-to-back kills Briscoe and Leverette, then strung together a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead at 19-17. Leverette, Duffey, and Singletary each added kills during an 8-2 closing stretch, and Hendrickson sealed the set with a final swing to give UCLA firm control heading into the third.
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UCLA closed out the match with a dramatic and momentum-shifting final set. The Bruins jumped out to a 7-1 lead behind back-to-back kills and an ace from Leverette, along with a kill and block from Singletary, forcing a UTEP timeout. The Miners responded with a 7-0 run to take an 8-7 lead, but UCLA quickly regained control with kills from Briscoe, Hendrickson, Lutz, and Leverette. After trading runs, the Bruins broke a 17-17 tie with a decisive 6-0 burst capped by a Singletary slam off an overpass. UCLA closed the set on a 9-3 run, with Hendrickson delivering the final kill to seal the sweep.
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UCLA looks to remain unbeaten at the Sun City Classic tomorrow afternoon when it faces off against Oral Roberts at 3 p.m. (PT).
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Set scores were 25-18, 25-20, 25-20.
ย
The Bruins (2-3) delivered their most efficient offensive performance of the season, hitting at a sharp .330 clip. Behind relentless serving pressure, UCLA consistently disrupted UTEP's rhythm and held the previously unbeaten Miners (6-1) to a .244 hitting percentage, well below their season average of .307. With the sweep, UCLA hands the tournament hosts their first loss of the year.
ย
Cheridyn Leverette shined in the win by collecting a game-high 13 kills at a stellar .400 clip. The Bruins received a huge performance from middle blocker Marianna Singletary, who tallied 10 kills (.381) with a pair of blocks.
ย
Carly Hendrickson hit an efficient .471 while collecting a career-best nine kills while Brooklyn Briscoe connected on eight of her 12 swings on the night.
ย
At the setter position, Kate Duffey turned in an excellent performance, setting a new career-high with 36 assists. Kat Lutz got the start at libero and racked up 10 digs to lead all players.
ย
After UTEP briefly rallied for a 3-0 run to take an early lead in the opening set, UCLA responded with a dominant stretch fueled by an efficient offensive attack. Leverette, Singletary, and Hendrickson each delivered timely kills, and Briscoe hammered an overpass to ignite a 3-0 run that forced a UTEP timeout at 17-15. The Bruins kept their foot on the gas with a 4-0 burst punctuated by a block from Hendrickson and Singletary. Hendrickson then delivered back-to-back service aces, followed by kills from Eliana Urzua and Briscoe to close out the set. UCLA hit a blistering .438 in the frame to take the opening set for the first time this season.
ย
UCLA battled through a back-and-forth second set before pulling away late with a decisive scoring run. The Bruins gained early momentum with a service ace from Duffey and kills from Singletary, Urzua, and Leverette. Singletary capitalized on an another UTEP overpass, and Hendrickson capped a 3-0 run to give UCLA an 11-10 lead. After UTEP responded with a run of its own, UCLA surged ahead again behind back-to-back kills Briscoe and Leverette, then strung together a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead at 19-17. Leverette, Duffey, and Singletary each added kills during an 8-2 closing stretch, and Hendrickson sealed the set with a final swing to give UCLA firm control heading into the third.
ย
UCLA closed out the match with a dramatic and momentum-shifting final set. The Bruins jumped out to a 7-1 lead behind back-to-back kills and an ace from Leverette, along with a kill and block from Singletary, forcing a UTEP timeout. The Miners responded with a 7-0 run to take an 8-7 lead, but UCLA quickly regained control with kills from Briscoe, Hendrickson, Lutz, and Leverette. After trading runs, the Bruins broke a 17-17 tie with a decisive 6-0 burst capped by a Singletary slam off an overpass. UCLA closed the set on a 9-3 run, with Hendrickson delivering the final kill to seal the sweep.
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UCLA looks to remain unbeaten at the Sun City Classic tomorrow afternoon when it faces off against Oral Roberts at 3 p.m. (PT).
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Team Stats
UCLA
UTEP
Kills
45
37
Errors
13
15
Attempts
97
90
Hitting %
.330
.244
Points
54.0
44.0
Assists
37
33
Aces
6
2
Blocks
3
5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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