This post was updated Oct. 1 at 9:45 p.m.

Since there are no losses to learn from, the Bruins continue to learn from their wins.

At least, that’s the case if you ask Trey Doten.

“We didn’t want the game (against Pepperdine) to be as close as it was,” the redshirt sophomore attacker said. “So today (against Air Force), our goal was to lock down on defense more.”

No. 1 UCLA men’s water polo (15-0, 1-0 MPSF) rematched against No. 4 Pepperdine (14-3) and also played Air Force (13-9) this past weekend on Friday and Saturday, respectively, defeating both programs at Spieker Aquatics Center. Although their opponents matched their first period scores in both contests, the Bruins were ultimately the victors.

UCLA toppled Pepperdine for the second time this season, but with a tighter margin of 10-9 compared to its earlier 15-11 victory, escaping in triple overtime Friday night.

Coach Adam Wright said Pepperdine was stronger from a ferocity standpoint.

“They played with greater intensity than we did,” Wright said.

Pepperdine scored the first two goals of the game, but the Liechty brothers – redshirt sophomore center Eli Liechty and freshman utility Ben Liechty – evened out the scoreboard with one goal each before the first quarter ended. However, the Waves had the upper hand in the second quarter, reaching halftime leading 4-3.

The contest heated up in the third quarter when four different Bruins scored, giving UCLA a 7-6 lead heading into the fourth period.

Senior attacker Makoto Kenney, after missing four games, recorded one goal and two assists, one of them being an assist to redshirt senior attacker Jack Larsen, who scored the game-winning goal in triple overtime to keep the Bruins undefeated.

Wright said Kenney’s absence has been difficult for the Bruin veteran, but he’s finding his way back into the rhythm.

“He’s only going to trend in the positive as he gets more time after being out,” Wright said.

The following night, UCLA went up against Air Force, and the Bruins continued their winning ways, claiming a 14-8 victory over the Falcons.

Eli Liechty, who scored against Pepperdine, said the team was stronger defensively in the latter matchup.

“We came out a little bit stronger and more focused, and I think that ultimately helped us,” Liechty said.

The Bruins held the Falcons to just four goals through the first half and seemed to have held their foes to just two goals in the second half, but conceded back-to-back goals shortly before the final whistle.

Wright called upon his depth against Air Force, with redshirt freshman attacker Jack Hilinski recording a career-high four points from two goals and two assists, while Doten matched his own career-high total with two goals.

UCLA will next face off against No. 2 California and No. 4 Stanford away from home in its first MPSF road trip of the campaign.