The transition into the Big Ten has tested the Bruins in their first season in the conference.

And in its last road trip of the season, UCLA women’s volleyball (12-13, 6-10 Big Ten) is set to face Indiana (12-14, 5-11) and Illinois (17-9, 9-7) on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

“We have to stay the course with making adjustments, believing in the process that we have and staying steady with that,” said head coach Alfee Reft. “That’s what’s in our control.”

The Bruins will be entering mostly unfamiliar territory, having faced the Hoosiers only once in program history, and not squaring off with the Fighting Illini in more than 10 years. In their match against the Hoosiers at the Long Beach State tournament in September 2023, the Bruins won in four sets after dropping the first. In their 12 meetings against the Fighting Illini, the Bruins hold an undefeated record.

Coming off a loss to No. 6 Wisconsin on Saturday, UCLA will take its fight on the road to potentially secure a spot in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament.

With a match-leading 20 kills and .368 hitting percentage against the Badgers, junior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette controlled the Bruins’ side of the net. The Hampton, Georgia, local is currently ranked sixth in the Big Ten in kills per set with a 4.09 average.

“These are the types of matches I’ve looked forward to playing in since I was little,” Leverette said. “Not taking that for granted and being full of gratitude.”

Against the Hoosiers last year, Leverette posted nine kills, two assists and an ace.

But with a new conference logo on UCLA’s chest this season, graduate student setter Audrey Pak said it takes more than preparation to find success in the Big Ten.

“We start with our game plan, but as soon as they make adjustments, we have to be ready to adjust back and forth too,” Pak said.

In Indiana, the Bruins will face off against the 12th-ranked outside hitter in the Big Ten, Candela Alonso-Corcelles, who is coming off 11 digs, seven kills, two assists and one block against Nebraska – though the Madrid local did record 12 hitting errors. Alonso-Corcelles leads the Hoosiers in kills per set with 3.51.

Against the Fighting Illini, however, the team will meet Raina Terry, the fourth-ranked outside hitter in the Big Ten with 4.36 kills per set. Terry has been named to the All-Big Ten First Team both of the past two seasons.

But these stats have little bearing on the Bruins.

“We know that when we are taking care of our stuff on our side of the net that we can go head to head with anyone in the country,” Pak said.

UCLA’s weekend full of competition will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday.