By james art 
Breaking records has become Bruin’s trademark.
Wednesday night proved that nothing had changed.
Guided by the perfect stabbing rate of Sean McKuygan, No. 3 UCLA (7-3) swept №2 UC Irvine (10-1) at the Bren’s events center in Ervine. Junior’s red junior blocker has published 10 career strikes against anteater to become only the second Bruin in the history of the program, which hit 1.000 in a match.
“This is probably some of the best volleyballs we played throughout the season, especially going against a team like UCI – that was big for us,” McCuggan said.
McKiggan – which began on Wednesday and returned for his second court appearance this season – he was confronted with the expectations of presenting himself at a level in accordance with his previous appearances as a regular asset in the composition of 2024, but although Redondo beach, California Beach . The local, has not touched volleyball for seven months – until the match with Long Beach – he refused to allow his shoulder injury to limit his contribution. Along with the perfect punch rate, he contributed to four block assists in the process.
Although he recorded the back against the beach, McCuggan said there was still faith in the team to compete with the best of the best-in-closed anteaters.
“I always believed that while I was confident in my play, I would go out there and play great. I have never lost confidence, “McCuggan said. “As long as I have a chance to compete, I will be the best person I can be. I have a great support group of boys with me. I really believe we have the best combination of six volleyballs in our team. “
The red junior outside the striker Cooper Robinson also contributed to his share with 11 strokes. Murder by Jr. Middle Blocker Cameron Thorne in the second set-whos the match ended the match with his 15 career murders and the match-giving advantage of Bruins at 13-12, of which is to be forthcoming. This slim margin is ultimately simplified in the 8 -point Ucla lead that contained Ervine to a percentage of hitting -. 143, leading to its only negative set of the season.
The chemistry between Andrew Rowan and the pins of the squad helped to pave the road to 45 murders at a common clip .442 by the end of the night. With 37 assists, Jr. Setter turned out to be instrumental for extracting two -digit killings from several Bruins, as well as in supporting Thorne in ac and acted into a new collegial environment.
“Our relationship is improving as the season progresses,” Thorne said. “It was a little bad at first because adaptation to a new set is always difficult. He did a great job, talking to me and … he told me where to go. “
A senior external striker/against Ido David also returned to the squad after a head injury on January 31 against Pen State gathered him for three games. However, David-who made the team at all NCAA Championship tournaments in 2023. The first will repeat the success of its other year.
Although two years ago he won the first Avca All-America Selection team, David’s offensive production dropped to his second worst clip for the season in –.500 and generated six errors in Ervine service.
The 6-foot-7 punch rate decreases every year since it first settled in Westwood in 2022, lower than 192 kills between 2023 and 2024.
The struggles have proven to be difficult so far so that UCLA can overcome, as Bruins is currently qualifying outside the top 50 in the country to dig a set. Sophomore Outside Hitter Luca Curci Six Reeption Sifford has doubled the overall errors of Irvine acceptance.
But along with Curci, junior Redshirt Libero Matthew Aziz helps to fill in defense gaps to the former setter and 2022 MPSF Player of the Year Miles Partain – who is waiting for NCAA permission to officially return to the UCLA list – can potentially take over. Aziz and junior external striker Zack Rama have published six digging every-season season for both of them during the match.
Coach John Hawks said that the team had fulfilled the game plan well and pressed the predictions to win every point they received.
“For us to go out and show the hard work we put in the gym against a very, very good team in Irvine, in their gym, it was a testimony to the character of our boys,” Hox said. “This is a catalyst for what we can do ahead.”