The UCLA men’s volleyball team lost a close five-set match to UC Irvine in the NCAA Los Angeles regional final on May 2. The set scores were 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 19-25, and 16-14.
This result means that UC Irvine advances to the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball semifinals. UCLA finishes its season with an overall record of 29 wins and two losses, as well as both the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament and regular season titles.
Sean Kelly led all players with a career-high of 26 kills for UCLA, while Zach Rama added another 20 kills. For UC Irvine, Andreas Brinck recorded a team-high of 17 kills. Andrew Rowan contributed with 57 assists for UCLA and leaves the program as the all-time leader in set assists during the rally scoring era. Rowan also departs as a three-time first-team All-American and four-time first-team All-MPSF honoree.
UC Irvine won the opening set narrowly before UCLA responded by taking control in the second set after a tied score at ten points each. Key plays from Kelly and David Decker helped secure that set for UCLA. The teams traded sets until reaching a decisive fifth frame where UCLA held match point at 14-12 but could not close out victory after an official touch call extended play.
UC Irvine then took three consecutive points to win both the fifth set and match.
