After three straight series in the South, the Bruins get to enjoy an in-state getaway this weekend.

UCLA women’s volleyball (5-2) is set for an action-packed weekend, first taking a trip up to Davis, California, to face UC Davis (4-4) on Thursday. Less than 48 hours later, the Bruins will head south for Berkeley to battle California (7-3). The pair of matches will be the Bruins’ final tune-up before diving into Big Ten conference play.

After almost three weeks on the road, the team is grateful to be playing closer to Westwood.

“The travel can take a toll on us, but it’s always really good to play at home,” said graduate student setter Audrey Pak.

Pak isn’t the only California local happy to be back competing in the Golden State – junior outside/opposite hitter Grayce Olson shared similar sentiments.

“I’m from NorCal and I’m excited to go home,” Olson said. “We are excited to not travel far.”

UCLA’s match against Davis marks the Bruins’ first match against the Aggies since 2021. In their last encounter, graduate student middle blocker Anna Dodson was the only current player to compete, recording 12 kills and an ace as the Bruins won 3-1.

In their two matchups in 2023, the Bruins and Golden Bears split the season series with each team winning once. Cal enters this week four games above .500 despite losses to Utah and then-No. 8 Purdue. Saturday’s match will be just the Bears’ second game on their home court – Haas Pavilion – after ten consecutive road games opened the 2024 season.

Last weekend, UCLA failed to extend its two-game winning streak at the Fight in the Fort tournament after its match against TCU, where the Bruins lost to the Horned Frogs 3-1.

“We are on a good path overall,” said coach Alfee Reft. “But we are just not quite there yet – we have to be able to handle the small things and the simple plays.”

UCLA added seven new players to its squad this season: three transfers and four freshmen, many of whom have already seen playing time. Pak said having a squad with so many new faces means needing to get them into the Bruin routine – something UCLA has been working on throughout nonconference play.

“It’s been really great,” Pak said. “We did a lot of work to get them integrated quickly into our culture and getting better at volleyball.”

The action starts when the Bruins take on the Aggies on Thursday at 6 p.m.