This post was updated Jan. 31 at 1:16 a.m.

The Bruins win and lose games in the same fashion – together.

No. 3 UCLA men’s volleyball (4-1) will play against No. 17 Penn State (0-4) on Friday and against No. 13 Ohio State (3-3) on Saturday as part of the Big Ten Challenge in Columbus, Ohio. Two weeks ago, the Bruins swept the Nittany Lions but fell in four sets to the Buckeyes in the First Point Collegiate Challenge.

The upcoming gauntlet will give UCLA a chance to compete at the Covelli Center – the same venue where they can crown themselves as the NCAA champions for a third consecutive year in May.

“We’re looking forward to going there and seeing what that championship environment looks like,” coach John Hawks said. “We’re going to take it one day at a time, and we’ll prepare for our next opponent.”

To defend their championship status, the Bruins can utilize the talent of their plethora of players. But the team’s attacking arsenal has been spearheaded by the connection between junior setter Andrew Rowan and redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson.

“When it comes down to it, you know what you’re going to get out of a guy like that (Robinson),” Rowan said. “You know he’s going to perform. That guy is a competitor and he wants it more than anyone.”

Barring just one contest, which ended in a tie, Robinson has steadily increased his total attacks from the previous match in every affair. His most recent performance showcased a season-high 15 kills paired with eight digs and a career-high six service aces.

Finding contributions defensively could also prove vital to a postseason race, especially after the graduation of former Bruin middle blocker Merrick McHenry, who was a four-time AVCA All-America selection and the MPSF Player of the Year last season.

In their sole loss this season, the Bruins gave up a season-high 0.230 hitting percentage, as well as a 0.500 hitting efficiency in the final stanza.

“We lost a lot of pieces from last year,” Rowan said. “Something that makes a great team is when you learn how to win with that team. Learning how to win is almost a separate skill from everything else. We’re still figuring out what our rhythm is, what our pattern is in the game. There’s going to be ups and downs, but that’s alright.”

Junior Cameron Thorne, who transferred from Grand Canyon this past summer, has helped fill in this void. The middle blocker has quickly become a key member of Hawks’ rotation, playing in every one of the Bruins’ sets this season. In his last outing, Thorne achieved a season-high 12 kills and seven blocks on a 0.526 hitting percentage.

“I go into every game the same,” Thorne said. “I believe in my abilities and I feel that I’m the best middle in the nation, so I have that confidence and have fun on the court.”

Joining Thorne on the front line are senior outside hitter/opposite Ido David and junior outside hitter Zach Rama, who both recorded personal season highs with four blocks in the Bruins’ previous outing.

Sophomore middle blocker Thiago Zamprogno also continues to forge a role in Hawks’ lineup. After making his two-set Bruin debut against UC San Diego last Thursday, he played in all four sets against Cal State Northridge and notched three digs and four blocks.

“Playing in matches with a lot of people watching or no one watching, I’ve had that experience in club so it doesn’t matter to me if there’s 3,000 people watching,” Zamprogno said. “I’d play the same.”

Alas, on the other side of the net lies two formidable opponents: one that seeks to tie the season series and another that can make back-to-back victorious claims against UCLA.

Against Penn State, Hawks will turn to the same defense that formerly limited the Nittany Lions to a 0.000 hitting percentage. Outside hitter Will Kuhns, who leads the squad with 43 total kills this season, could uplift the Lions’ offense.

After its match against Penn State, UCLA has the prospect of snatching a win from an Ohio State team that did the same to the squad last week.

Although UCLA posted more kills, blocks and assists, it was a 12-service error advantage for the Buckeyes that paved the path to a Bruin defeat in the last matchup. However, Hawks does not preach a philosophy that shies away from serving strongly.

“We lost last week, so we’re looking for revenge,” Robinson said. “We’re looking to go play our ball.”