For the past two years, May had been a month of UCLA magic. The Bruins won back-to-back national titles in men’s volleyball in 2023 and 2024, turning spring into a celebration of blue and gold. But in 2025, the magic ran out.
No. 1 seed Long Beach State (30-3, 8-2 Big West) defeated No. 3 seed UCLA (22-7, 10-2 MPSF) in straight sets on Monday night at the Covelli Center, winning their first NCAA championship since 2019. This loss ended UCLA’s hopes of a three-peat, something they had not done since 1983.
“It’s what we’ve expected since the start,” said UCLA coach John Hawks. “I’m proud of our team’s growth. My heart is with these players, especially the seniors.”
UCLA had been one of the best attacking teams all season, with a .369 hitting percentage. But their mistakes in the final cost them dearly. The Bruins made 15 attack errors, including 10 in a crucial second set where they blew an 18-13 lead. Errors from key players like junior outside hitter Zach Rama and senior Ido David opened the door for Long Beach State to come back.
Long Beach setter Moni Nikolov, the AVCA Player and Newcomer of the Year, took advantage. His two-ace run helped turn the second set around, and he finished the match with four service aces—more than the entire UCLA team, which only managed three.
The Bruins also struggled in other areas, with 18 service errors and problems in defense. Redshirt junior libero Matthew Aziz and sophomore Luca Curci, who usually lead the backline, combined for just three digs.
UCLA’s offensive stars had a rough night. Rama and junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne both hit below .150. Freshman Sean Kelly, who had led the team with 13 kills in the semifinal, had only three kills and three errors in the final.
Despite the struggles, MPSF Player of the Year and AVCA First Team All-American Cooper Robinson led UCLA with 10 kills, hitting .381. He reflected on the team’s tradition of success.
“UCLA has 21 championships for a reason. We have a formula that works,” Robinson said. “This year, we had new leaders, and though it was tough at first, the team stepped up by the end.”
Junior setter Andrew Rowan, a three-time AVCA First Team All-American, had his lowest assist total since March 15. Still, he focused on the positives.
“We faced tough moments this year,” Rowan said. “But how we overcame those challenges was the biggest lesson for us as players and leaders.”
Though the season ended in disappointment, the Bruins’ legacy of excellence remains.
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