It’s all about keeping the momentum.

UCLA women’s volleyball (7-4, 1-1 Big Ten) is gearing up to host No. 12 Minnesota (8-4, 1-1) and Michigan (12-1, 2-0) at Pauley Pavilion on Friday and Saturday.

UCLA is riding high after securing a 3-1 victory over Ohio State last week, marking its first conference win of the season after a loss to No. 2 Nebraska.

In the Bruins’ last game against the Buckeyes, graduate student setter Audrey Pak led with 38 assists and 14 digs.

Pak, who returned to UCLA for a fifth season, is the only player who has started all 11 games. In that span, Pak has racked up 362 assists and 98 digs. In her senior campaign, she totaled 806 assists and 140 digs.

“I love Audrey,” said junior outside/opposite hitter Grayce Olson. “We have a lot of trust in her, so I know how good she is at setter. We all trust her on the court to run our offense.”

Not only does Pak hold offensive strengths, but she’s also a voice of support for the team.

“She gives me so much confidence,” said freshman outside hitter Kiki Horne. “If I mess up, she’s like, ‘The next one’s coming straight to you.’”

While UCLA holds a 4-2 all-time advantage against Minnesota, the Bruins haven’t played the Golden Gophers in almost eight years. Their last encounter came in the 2016 NCAA regional finals, where UCLA fell to Minnesota 3-0.

In contrast to its long hiatus with Minnesota, UCLA has faced Michigan consistently, maintaining a perfect 4-0 record since 1995.

The teams’ last showdown was a five-set battle in the second round of the 2015 NCAA tournament, in which the Bruins triumphed over the Wolverines.

The Bruin squad that went up against these teams is undoubtedly different from the one playing right now. Second-year coach Alfee Reft has brought a new style of play focused on communication and accountability.

“We’ve learned athletes are better when they have some autonomy and they’re taking ownership of their process,” Reft said. “We certainly guide them. There’s a trust component.”

Olson – who has witnessed the shift in styles, having been in Westwood since 2022 – said having control sets the team up for success.

“We have a lot of say as teammates to adjust and practice,” Olson said. “That freedom, or that trust that they have for us, is huge in our success.”