This post was updated May 6 at 8:42 p.m.

No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (20-6, 10-2 MPSF) will face No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey (17-8, 12-2 Conference Carolinas) on Thursday in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. If UCLA defeats Belmont Abbey, it will face either No. 2 seed Hawaiʻi (26-5, 7-3 Big West) or No. 7 seed Penn State (15-15, 8-4 EIVA) in the semifinals. Belmont Abbey heads into Thursday riding a seven-game winning streak, including a sweep of Mount Olive in the Conference Carolinas tournament, while Hawaiʻi carries the Big West tournament title after defeating No. 1 seed Long Beach State. Here is the NCAA tournament scouting report from Daily Bruin contributor Grant Walters.

Belmont Abbey
Coach: Derek Sullivan
Starting Lineup: S Joseph Morris, OH/OPP Zach Puentes, OH Caden Day, MB Jibriel Elhaddad, MB Garrett Hockman, OH Matthew Staskunas, L/DS Christian Rodriguez
Strength: Blocking and Reception
Weakness: Pin and Service Inefficiency
X-Factor: Jibriel Elhaddad

Defense can often compensate for offensive shortcomings.

Whether it be jumping to deter an opposing hitter at the net or diving for a ball that is sinking toward the hardwood, a staunch defense gives any team a fighting chance.

This has been the recipe for Belmont Abbey.

The Crusaders have registered 9.79 digs per set, enough for 11th in the nation, along with the sixth-most blocks at 2.49 per set.

And their defense spearheaded the sweep of Mount Olive in the Conference Carolinas championship, garnering 27 digs and 26 blocks.

Setter Joseph Morris has largely kept the ball off the floor, accumulating 129 digs while dishing 773 assists this season. Belmont Abbey also has four players with over 100 digs on the season, while UCLA boasts just two.

At the net, middle blocker Jibriel Elhaddad has stifled opposing pin hitters this season, sporting the seventh-most blocks per set in the nation at 1.16.

Fellow middle blocker Garrett Hockman also brandishes a top-50 ranking in blocks per set with a .90 clip.

The Crusaders will be challenged by a formidable UCLA attack, which boasts a .367 hitting percentage and 12.5 kills per set, good for third and 10th, respectively, in the NCAA.

Despite Belmont Abbey’s defensive success, it has struggled to find its offensive identity.

The team’s two starting outside hitters – Caden Day and Matthew Staskunas – both boast hitting percentages below .200 this season.

And although First Team All-Conference selection Zach Puentes has picked up the slack – sporting a .290 clip and 3.44 kills per set – Belmont Abbey only has the 32nd-best hitting percentage in the country at .257.

And Belmont Abbey’s offensive struggles also extend to the service line.

Although the Crusaders have committed just 325 service errors – 278 fewer blunders than the Bruins – they have only accumulated 93 aces this season, averaging just 1.09 per set.

The squad’s passive service approach may take the pressure off the Bruins, who’ve amassed 29 reception errors across their last five games, and could allow junior setter Andrew Rowan to better orchestrate the Bruins’ attack, which currently has three starters with hitting percentages above .300.

And this attack, which has driven much of UCLA’s success this season, will need to pierce Belmont Abbey’s formidable defense to kickstart its journey towards a third-straight national championship.

Hawaiʻi
Coach: Charlie Wade
Starting Lineup: S Tread Rosenthal, OPP Kristian Titriyski, OH Adrien Roure, MB Kurt Nusterer, MB Kurt Nusterer, OH Louis Sakanoko, L ‘Eleu Choy
Strength: Orchestrated Offense
Weakness: Defensive Inconsistency
X-Factor: Tread Rosenthal

Versatility is possibly the most important trait of a superstar.

And Hawaiʻi setter Tread Rosenthal checks all the boxes.

The back-to-back First Team All-Big West selection commands the Rainbow Warriors’ attack – one that boasts the fifth-best hitting percentage in the nation at .343 – with his 10.65 assists per set.

Furthermore, he has recorded 171 digs, 73 blocks and 37 aces to complement his passing prowess, ranking second or better on the team in each.

And the Austin, Texas, local’s physical traits stand out, especially for a setter. Rosenthal’s nearly 7-foot frame not only makes him an imposing force on the hardwood but also the tallest player on Hawaiʻi’s roster.

Hawaiʻi experienced a great deal of roster turnover from last season, losing opposites Alaka’i Todd and Spyros Chakas to graduation – who ranked first and second in team kills, respectively – along with outside hitter Keoni Thiim to the transfer portal.

Yet, Rosenthal has contributed to the attack’s seamless transition.

Rosenthal has allowed freshman pin hitters Adrien Roure and Kristian Titriyski to thwart opposing blocks, and both European locals eclipsed 300 kills this season.

But it’s rare to have both a budding offense and a dominant defense.

And Hawaiʻi defense represents its thorn.

The Rainbow Warriors have allowed opponents to sport a .263 hitting percentage, ranking 41st in the country, and only middle blocker Kurt Nusterer has recorded more than one block per set.

This could open up an opportunity for outside hitters Cooper Robinson and Zach Rama to sway the contest in UCLA’s favor at the net. Both attackers record .320-plus hitting percentages while boasting a top-30 efficiency.

Despite Hawai’i’s lack of a block, the team has particularly struggled to keep the ball off the floor on the squad’s side of the net, ranking outside of the top 50 in digs per set while averaging 1.2 reception errors per set.

These defensive backline inconsistencies could spell trouble for the Rainbow Warriors, especially when the Bruins boast 1.97 aces per set – which ranks fourth in the nation. This match could turn into an offensive exhibition, especially with Rowan and Rosenthal – two of the highest-touted setters in the country – commanding the team’s respective attacks while exploiting the defensive inconsistencies that each team has shown.

The Bruins must rely on their championship experience and mental fortitude – which has helped it capture four five-set wins this season – to outmatch a high-flying yet composed Rainbow Warriors’ attack that has spearheaded the squad’s return to the NCAA tournament after a one-year hiatus.