Junior outside hitter Zach Rama rises to strike the ball at the opposing block. (Lex Wang/Daily Bruin senior staff)
As Zach Rama stepped up to the service line, the junior outside hitter was bombarded with a cacophony of screams and taunts.
But this wasn’t a match-clinching point.
A sea of eyes watched the court.
Each gaze seemed fixed toward Cooper Robinson.
But the redshirt junior’s eyes were trained on someone else.
Former Bruin teammate Merrick McHenry – with the national championship ring he earned alongside the outside hitter last year glinting on his finger – gesticulated emphatically with his hands at Robinson from the sidelines, urging him on with some advice.
No. 2 UCLA men’s volleyball (19-4, 9-1 MPSF) will have a chance to extend its seven-game win streak in the Battle for LA against No. 5 USC (19-5, 7-3 MPSF) on Thursday at Pauley Pavilion – which is also senior night – and Saturday evening at the Galen Center.
This post was updated April 13 at 9:29 p.m.
The energy of a crowd can make or break a match.
And a home audience seemed like just what the Bruins needed to rebuild their win streak.
This post was updated April 12 at 4:31 p.m.
Few moments in a contest are as critical as match point.
The stakes are as high as they can get – and the fans know it, thundering from both sides with excitement.
Adversity builds character.
But only time will tell if adversity can also serve as motivation to rebuild a winning streak.
Starting nearly from scratch, No. 2 UCLA men’s volleyball (17-4, 7-1 MPSF) will play No.
Adversity breeds growth.
While training, conditioning and watching film help, nothing educates more than failure.
The Antelopes swept the Bruins on Friday.
But just 24 hours later, No.
A formidable defense is a prerequisite for championship-caliber play.
When playing in its seventh and eighth straight conference matches Friday and Saturday evening against No. 13 Grand Canyon (14-8, 3-5 MPSF), No.
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