Many recruited athletes explore their options before committing to a college.

Cooper Robinson always knew he belonged at UCLA.

“I grew up loving the school,” Robinson, who has donned blue-and-gold merchandise since childhood, said. “I always had a hunch that I would be a Bruin.”

The UCLA men’s volleyball redshirt junior outside hitter, who plans to play in Japan after he graduates this June, is one of nearly 10 family members who have competed for the Bruins.

Among those relatives, his mom was a swimmer, and his dad played water polo. A handful of aunts, uncles and cousins were similarly involved in UCLA’s sports programs.

Coming from an athletic family, Robinson said he was immersed in sports from an early age, but it was his uncle, Sinjin Smith, who encouraged his pursuit of volleyball.

Smith, a two-time national champion with UCLA, organized beach volleyball camps in western Los Angeles. Robinson said that attending these camps allowed him to play as much volleyball as possible, sparking his passion for the sport.

Robinson found himself spending time with his older cousin Hagen Smith, a professional beach volleyball player and another former Bruin. Robinson’s two older sisters – whom he also cites as influences guiding him to volleyball – also grew up playing the sport, with Charlie Robinson playing at UC Santa Barbara.

“It’s always been in my blood,” Robinson said. “I was very proud to be able to carry on that legacy.”

But the road to the Pacific Palisades local’s collegiate success – earning the 2025 MPSF Player of the Year award and numerous other accolades – came with adversity.

While other top recruits climbed the ranks of high school club volleyball, Robinson was cut from his first club team at 16 years old.

It wasn’t until a coach at Southern California Volleyball Club took a chance on him – around the same time the now-6-foot-7 outside hitter hit a late growth spurt at 17 and 18 – that Robinson began to tap into his potential.

With the guidance he received there, Robinson found himself on Volleyballmag’s 2020 Boys 25 Underclassmen to Watch List and managed to secure a couple collegiate volleyball offers.

“It was between UCSD, UCLA, but, as soon as I got the offer at UCLA, it was an immediate yes,” Robinson said. “There’s no way to turn down such a great program and such a great school.”

The outside hitter still saw limited playing time during his first two seasons in college despite his growth, redshirting his freshman year in 2022 and earning just two starts in 2023.

Alumnus Ethan Champlin, a fellow outside hitter who mentored Robinson, said, while Robinson had always possessed natural athleticism, embracing a strong work ethic maximized his talent. By his third year on the team, Robinson earned a consistent starting position.

“He had some growing pains his first two years and had to figure out what it means to work hard. He wasn’t the hardest worker when he came into UCLA,” Champlin said. “His senior season he really grew and developed. He knew what he needed to work on, … and it showed this season, taking on a bigger role in terms of in the receiving lineup. And then he was just really good at attack.”

Over his four years in Westwood, Robinson has been part of two national title-winning squads. And despite the Bruins’ loss in this year’s NCAA championship match, the squad’s team captain was integral in leading the team to a 22-7 season record while spearheading the third-best hitting percentage in the nation with a 0.367 clip.

Robinson ended his final year on the team with 365 total kills on a .388 clip, boasting double-digit kills in 21 out of his 28 games played. He also earned MPSF Offensive Player of the Week twice and AVCA National Player of the Week honors while being selected to both the All-MPSF and All-American First Teams.

“He’s definitely stepped up big time his last two years and became our main leader, really. And he would always give us pep talks to make sure we’re all in line,” said sophomore outside hitter Luca Curci. “He taught us what it was like to be on the team and be one with the guys.”

UCLA has long been in Robinson’s legacy, home to generations of his relatives. But on the hardwood, Robinson created a new family – one forged not by blood but by bond.

From Champlin and former Bruin Alex Knight, who served as his mentors, to junior setter Andrew Rowan and junior outside hitter Zach Rama, who are his closest friends, Robinson said he’s been fortunate to have a strong support system.

“The one word is ‘family.’ I admire the program and the alumni network and all the great people involved on the court and off the court. I’ve had amazing coaching. I’ve been mentored by some amazing players. I’ve played with some fantastic friends,” Robinson said. “I credit all of my happiness and my ability to keep playing to them.”

As Robinson’s chapter at UCLA comes to a close, the decorated men’s volleyball athlete has plans for an illustrious professional career, following in the footsteps of his predecessors.

“I was actually talking with my dad the other day about this,” Robinson said. “When I was younger, he looked at me and was like, ‘Hey, I know this is far-fetched, but you can be an Olympian. You can be one of the best players, blah, blah, blah.’ He instilled this type of confidence in me that I think lingered throughout my career.”