Nebraska Volleyball Takes on an Uber Talented UCLA Team

SB Nation

#1 Nebraska vs. UCLA

When: Friday, November 14th, 9:00pm (CT)

Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Watch: B1G Network

Don’t Sleep on a Sneaky Good UCLA

In fact, don’t even blink, keep your eyes open all the time!

2024 Record: 14-15 (8-12 B1G) 2024 NCAA Tournament Result: Did not qualify 2024 Ranked Wins: #24 Washington, #14 Georgia Tech 2024 vs Nebraska:

lost in four sets in Lincoln late September 2025 Ranked Wins: #15 Penn State (Sep 28th), #14 Minnesota (Oct 8), #22 USC (Oct 11)

Nebraska is the last ranked team on the UCLA schedule. UCLA is receiving votes to be part of the coaches top 25 poll and is currently an honorable mention. They are 36th in RPI rankings. This is a team trying to prove they should be in the NCAA tournament. There would be nothing more convincing to prove that point than a win over Nebraska and don’t let their record lull you to sleep.

UCLA is yet to hit their stride and as their team begins to gel and get healthy, they are looking more and more dangerous. UCLA is sneaky good with transfers that have yet to make their total impact because of injuries but would like nothing more than to pounce on the scene Friday night against your Huskers.

Nebraska is well rounded with strength at every position plus players on the bench that are proven match ready. They are a tough match on anyone’s schedule, but that match is also an opportunity for opposing teams to demonstrate their best against the team sitting on top of every volleyball poll in the country.

12 of the 18 members of the Bruins roster are new to the program as either a freshman or a transfer. Let’s talk first about the transfers and circle back to the freshmen and then the returning players making an impact.

The Bruins brought in Zayna Meyer, the 2023 Big West Setter of the Year, at Long Beach State with loads of experience. In the off season, they also signed 6’4” Phekran Kong, who has played in the NCAA semifinals for Coach Dani Busboom Kelly at Louisville multiple times, and Texas’ 6’4” Marianna Singletary, who is a blocking machine and provides ample offense.

And it doesn’t end there. They brought in libero, Lola Schumacher, from Wisconsin who is excellent and picked up Maggie Li from Cal on the outside. She is a play maker. She averaged 4.49 points per set last season at Cal.

All of these transfer players see playing time and are integral to the UCLA team that dangerously talented but not yet bringing it all together at one time.

Key returning players for UCLA include Kate Duffey in the setting position, Cheridyn Leverette at outside hitter and Brooklyn Briscoe in the middle. Duffey made an impact last season in the setting position right away getting on the court. Last season, as a junior, Leverette was first team all-conference and the leader in kills on her team averaging 4.14 kills per set.

Briscoe is 6’4” and a blocking presence at the net averaging .74 blocks per set. She doesn’t make many errors offensively, she is set in limited quantities, but the Huskers need to keep her mind. Singletary will be the other middle and is more active offensively and defensively. She averages 2.22 kills and 1.29 blocks per set. That is an active middle.

Nebraska is fresh off an impressive win over #22 Minnesota and then a solid week of practice prior to this road trip to California. UCLA is the first of two road matches in LA. Nebraska plays UCLA on Friday and USC on Sunday. After this road trip, Nebraska is home against Iowa. There is one more road trip to #18 Indiana and then one more weekend, November 28th and 29th, at home against #24 Penn State and Ohio State. That is it! The regular season ends, and tournament time is upon us.

UCLA Bruins (14-10, 8-6 B1G)

#0 Hazel Alevok 6’7” FR MB
#1 Zayna Meyer 6’1”GR Setter
#2 Sakura Codling 5’5” FR DS
#3 Kate Duffey 6’0” SO Setter
#4 Brooklyn Briscoe 6’4” RS-SO MB
#5 Mija Bendziute 6’3” FR RS
#6 Anastasija Ivkovic 6’3”SO OH
#7 Phekran Kong 6’4”GR OPP/MB
#8 Maggie Li 6’3” JR OH
#9 Cheridyn Leverette 6’0” SR OH
#10 Sydney Breon 5’10” JR MB
#11 Marianna Singletary 6’4” RS-JR MB
#14 Kiki Horne 6’2” SO OH
#17 Eliana Urzua 6’2” FR OH
#22 Kat Lutz 5’4” JR DS
#24 Lauren Cortina 5’8” FR DS
#25 Carly Hendrickson 6’2” SR OH
#30 Lola Schumacher 5’5” SO DS/Libero