This post was updated Sept. 26 at 12:33 a.m.

Big Ten volleyball is finally here – and the Bruins are traveling into the belly of the beast.

After nine nonconference matches to open its season, UCLA women’s volleyball (6-3) is headed to Lincoln, Nebraska, to commence Big Ten play. While UCLA faced a trio of ranked opponents during its nonconference slate, it has yet to face an opponent as daunting as its next – No. 2 Nebraska (10-1).

As last year’s national runner-up, the Cornhuskers are one of only three programs with more national titles than the Bruins’ four.

“Nebraska is a unique and really special place to play,” said coach Alfee Reft. “So there’s really no better way for us to open up and dive into the Big Ten than playing there. Ultimately, we’re just really excited for the challenge.”

While UCLA will undoubtedly have to travel further for Big Ten matches – Nebraska included – than it did in the Pac-12, the team is unphased.

“Our preseason schedule really helped us prepare for that, so it doesn’t feel like it’s completely new,” said graduate student setter Audrey Pak.

UCLA’s nine nonconference matches were all on the road – traveling to Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Northern California. In fact, the Bruins won’t play their home opener until Sunday against Ohio State.

However, the Bruins have found advantages from their tour across the country.

“We’ve had a lot of opportunities to practice against a different variety of crowds – starting out at Georgia Tech, where it feels like the fans are on top of you, versus something like Cal today, where the fans feel a little farther and it just feels like a bigger space,” junior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette said after Saturday’s contest in Haas Pavilion. “Just getting a taste of what it’s like to be in all of those different environments, it’s just super helpful for us.”

Leverette has proven the most dominant of the Bruins so far, recording double-digit kill totals at each destination. The Hampton, Georgia, local leads the team with 110 kills – 25 more than second-place freshman outside hitter Kiki Horne – and has done so at a .325 clip, the best among Bruins with at least 100 total attacks.

And though the Bruins may be prepared, the Huskers – and their fans – can’t be undersold.

While UCLA will battle Nebraska in the Huskers’ typical home at the Devaney Center, just over a year ago, Nebraska filled Memorial Stadium with 92,003 fans, setting the record for attendance at a women’s sporting event.

In contrast to Reft, who’s in his second year with the Bruins, the Huskers are led by 25th-year coach John Cook. Cook boasts a 699-101 record with the Huskers, including eight NCAA championship appearances and four national titles.

The veteran head honcho’s team isn’t half bad either – returning two 2023 First-Team All-Americans in outside hitter Merritt Beason and libero Lexi Rodriguez.

But for Reft and the Bruins, the mentality doesn’t change based on who they play.

“We keep the goals the same – it’s just to keep getting better,” Reft said. “Every time, every week, we go out and with every opponent (we’re) a little sharper and a little more of ourselves.”