This post was updated Oct. 2 at 12:01 a.m.

Nothing beats the taste of victory on your home court.

After 10 away matches, UCLA women’s volleyball (7-4, 1-1, Big Ten) continued conference play with a clash against Ohio State (7-5, 0-2). The Bruins secured their first win at home this season with a 3-1 victory at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday afternoon.

“We love when people come to Pauley and watch – you can hear it all over, cheering for us when we score points, hearing everyone celebrating,” said junior outside/opposite hitter Grayce Olson. “That helps a lot confidence-wise and keeping the momentum on our side.”

In the end, the Bruins emerged victorious against the Buckeyes under the roaring cheers of spectators at Pauley Pavilion. The team’s attacking reached a .429 kill percentage overall.

Coach Alfee Reft’s roster began to explore its attacking depth with kill contributions from Olson, graduate student middle hitter Leilani Dodson and freshman outside hitter Kiki Horne. The Bruins took hold of the first set, etching 12 kills out of 25 points with a hitting percentage of .259, while limiting the Buckeyes to .054.

Following a four-point deficit late in the second set, 20-16, Horne and Olson each notched a kill while junior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette scored back-to-back kills to give UCLA the lead 23-22. Teetering at the opponent’s edge, each kill and block contributed to a seesaw act as the second set was secured with a solo block at the fingertips of graduate student middle blocker Anna Dodson.

In defensive prowess, Dodson led the Bruins with seven blocks, while Olson reached a career-high record of five blocks. Within the attack force of the roster, Leverette tallied 10 matches in a row with double-digit kills and maintained a .447 kill percentage. Alongside Leverette, Horne also took shots, with 12 kills contributing to a .364 kill percentage.

Graduate students outside/opposite hitter Joy Umeh and setter Audrey Pak scored the only two Bruin service aces of the match in the third set. A slight touch of a fingertip challenged a tally during a three-point Bruin comeback from 23-19 down, but in the end, the Buckeyes regained control to clinch the third.

Despite losing the frame, Horne said confidence and team chemistry translated into momentum heading into the fourth set.

“We just looked at each other, like, ‘We have done this in practice. We can do it again right now,'” Horne said. “We came out into the fourth set and made sure we finished the game.”

In the final frame, the Bruins reemerged in full swing. Along with tallying the most kills at 17, the set also presented the highest kill percentage of the match at .567. A final kill from Horne secured the match as the spectators of Pauley Pavilion roared.

Ending their first home game on a high, the Bruins etched their first win in conference play.

“We give them a lot of space to take ownership of not just their play, but as a team,” Reft said. “That’s when teams are really thriving, when they’re driving the ship and we’re guiding them. I’d say that’s a big thing.”