This post was updated Aug. 3 at 9:37 p.m.

CHICAGO – Then-UCLA associate head coach Amir Lugo-Rodriguez, middle blocker Anna Dodson and setter Audrey Pak took the stage at the 2024 Big Ten Media Days a year ago – newcomers to what many consider the nation’s best women’s volleyball conference.

And in their maiden voyage, the Bruins got beaten up, finishing with their first losing record since 2018 and going 8-12 in conference play, causing UCLA women’s volleyball – just one of five programs in the nation with at least four NCAA titles – to miss the national tournament for the third consecutive year.

It seemed like a change was needed.

And change has come.

Heading into his third year at the helm, coach Alfee Reft – alongside rising senior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette and rising graduate student transfer setter Zayna Meyer – represented UCLA at the 2025 Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, bringing expectations that may have seemed ludicrous just a year ago.

“We want to win a natty,” Meyer said, only after getting the nod from Reft to make her declaration to the room. “We’re going for the Final Four, and we want to be Big Ten champions.”

With 11 departures from the 2024 squad – including Dodson and Pak to graduation – Reft and company brought in five transfers and five freshmen. In fact, newcomers outnumber returners 10 to eight.

Besides Meyer, the Bruins welcome rising graduate student middle blocker Phekran Kong from Louisville, rising junior outside hitter and AVCA Player of the Year Award Watch List honoree Maggie Li from California, rising redshirt junior middle blocker Marianna Singletary – who spent her summer with the U23 United States national team – from Texas and rising sophomore defensive specialist/libero and 2024 All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection Lola Schumacher from Wisconsin.

Of the five incoming freshmen, middle blocker Hazel Alevok and defensive specialist/libero Sakura Codling will arrive in Westwood having earned First and Second Team All-American distinctions from the AVCA, respectively.

But despite the influx of talent, it’s hard to overlook returning veterans like Leverette.

“People like Cheridyn have been with us from the beginning, have been with me from the start,” Reft said. “She was here prior to my getting to UCLA, so she’s a Bruin through and through. … We’re very excited to cash in on something unique and special that includes a crux eight players that have been in our program for the past two to three years.”

The rising senior is coming off a breakout 2024 campaign that earned her All-Big Ten First Team honors and an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Ahead of the 2025 season, Leverette finds herself on the 30-player AVCA Player of the Year Award Watch List and is one of four Bruins to crack the 20-player preseason all-conference team.

“One of the things that allows me to be so successful is the balance that I have in taking care of myself outside of the court,” Leverette said. “That’s why I love UCLA, living in LA so much, is because on my off days, I can do so many things to take care of me and my mental health and my well-being in general.”

Additionally, Lugo-Rodriguez is no longer with the program, Reft said. However, assistant coach Nick Vogel has moved to UCLA’s women’s program after spending the past three seasons with the men’s team – helping the Bruins claim the 2023 and 2024 national titles as well as a championship appearance in 2025.

Reft said Vogel’s familiarity with UCLA, both as a student-athlete and coach – including a one-year stint as a volunteer assistant for the women’s squad in 2015 – put him ahead of other candidates for the job. Reft added that he hopes Vogel can help his team’s block and defense after the Bruins posted 2.03 blocks per set – the second-worst mark in the conference – and surrendered a .224 opponent hitting percentage, the fifth-highest in the Big Ten.

A year ago, the Bruins were picked to finish eighth in the conference by the preseason coaches poll – only to end the season in a three-way tie for 10th. This year, they’re picked to finish fifth. And with the Big Ten’s top nine teams all making the NCAA tournament last season, UCLA appears to have its best chance at a postseason run since 2021.

The Bruins’ 2025 schedule is comprised of 20 road matches – 12 of which come consecutively to begin the season – and just 10 at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA will play three of the four Big Ten programs ranked ahead of it – Penn State, Wisconsin and Minnesota – in enemy territory and battle conference favorite Nebraska in Westwood on Nov. 14.

But before conference action, UCLA will take on Long Beach State – Meyer’s alma mater – in its season opener.

“Truly, I’m really excited to be back in the (Walter) Pyramid. I think it’s one of the best volleyball venues in the country, and I have so much love for that community and Long Beach,” Meyer said. “It’s going to be a little interesting being in a different jersey, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.”