The UCLA men’s volleyball team, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, is set to host Vanguard University on Tuesday at 7 p.m. PT at Pauley Pavilion. Later in the week, they will face No. 13 Ohio State on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT, with that match being televised on the Big Ten Network.
Senior outside hitter Zach Rama has received national recognition for his recent performances, earning both AVCA National Player of the Week and MPSF Offensive Player of the Week honors. Over two matches against ranked opponents Ball State and Loyola Chicago at the First Point Collegiate Challenge in Phoenix, Arizona, Rama averaged 5.71 kills per set and hit .515 overall. In a win over Loyola Chicago, he recorded a career-high 23 kills while hitting .618.
Rama also earned MPSF Offensive Player of the Week for week one after leading UCLA in kills during victories over McKendree and Concordia last week.
Senior setter Andrew Rowan has led UCLA’s offense to a .473 hitting percentage across the opening three weekends of play this season. He has registered 238 assists through four matches—an average of 12.65 assists per set—and had a season-high 53 assists against Ball State.
UCLA leads all NCAA teams early in the season in several categories: first in kills per set (14.84), first in hitting percentage (.473), and first in assists per set (14.21). Individually, Rowan ranks first nationally with 12.53 assists per set, while Rama stands second in kills per set (4.84) and fourth in total kills (92).
Middle blockers Cameron Thorne and Micah Wong Diallo have made strong starts to their seasons as well; Thorne is hitting .661 with 45 kills through six matches, while Wong Diallo is hitting .684 with 28 kills.
Last year, UCLA reached its third consecutive NCAA Championship final appearance and its fourth straight Final Four berth. The Bruins finished the season with a record of 22-7 overall and topped MPSF regular-season standings for a fifth consecutive year.
Four Bruins were named AVCA All-Americans last season: setter Andrew Rowan (first team), middle blocker Cameron Thorne (first team), outside hitter Zach Rama (second team), and Cooper Robinson who was named MPSF Player of the Year as a senior.
At season’s end, head coach John Hawks along with rising sophomore Sean Kelly represented Team USA at the U21 World Championships held in China; they helped secure a bronze medal—the first time an American youth national team medaled at that event.
To start this year’s campaign, UCLA has swept five out of six opponents—including ranked teams McKendree, Loyola Chicago, and UC San Diego—and continues its dominance within conference play by winning 44 out of its last 48 MPSF matches since the start of the 2022 season.
In preseason polls for both AVCA Coaches and MPSF Coaches’, UCLA was picked as favorite to repeat as conference champions.
Returning players include seniors Andrew Rowan (setter), Zach Rama (outside hitter), Cameron Thorne (middle blocker), sophomore Sean Kelly (outside hitter), among others—all bringing significant experience from previous NCAA tournament runs.
Newcomers joining this year’s roster are Brogan Glenn (libero from Corona Del Mar HS), Filippos Chrysostomou (outside hitter from Cyprus), Grayson Bradford (outside hitter from Manhattan Beach/Mira Costa High School), Rafael Urbina (setter from Broomfield/Legacy High School/Team USA U19 gold medalist) and Marek Turner (outside hitter from Long Beach/Woodrow Wilson High School/Team USA junior programs).
UCLA remains focused on continuing its strong performance as it prepares for upcoming home matches this week.
