This post was updated Oct. 10 at 12:07 a.m.

Never count the underdog out.

The Bruins have proved that no matter how new or young their team is, they can bounce back.

UCLA women’s volleyball (9-6, 3-2 Big Ten) upset No. 14 Minnesota (13-3, 3-2) in straight sets at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis on Wednesday night after losing back-to-back conference contests at home. The Bruins are 3-0 on the road in the Big Ten and handed the Golden Gophers their first loss at home since Nov. 9 of last year.

The squad has appeared to build its chemistry throughout the season, which its defensive performance at the net and in the back row has reflected.

“We’re certainly slowing teams down, and I didn’t think very many tips or easy shots fell. I thought we won that part of the game,” said coach Alfee Reft. “It’s incredibly frustrating to play against a block and a defense that’s playing the way they (UCLA) did … Part of it is preparation, but then a big part of that is execution.”

The Bruins held the Gophers to a .089 hitting percentage – a feat UCLA has not achieved against a conference opponent since its performance against Ohio State on Sept. 29, 2024, when it held the Buckeyes to a .087 clip.

Defensively, the Bruins tied their season-high in total blocks and digs with 12 and 59, respectively. Sophomore setter Kate Duffey engineered the attack, distributing 36 assists.

Duffey has stepped into the starting setter role this season, after the graduation of featured setter Audrey Pak. It initially appeared that Duffey might have to wait her turn once again when the Bruins acquired graduate student setter Zayna Meyer through the transfer portal.

But Duffey edged Meyer out for the role.

“She’s (Duffey is) such a warrior. I’m so proud of her,” Reft said. “She’s really becoming a tactician and moving the pieces around as the match goes. I thought tonight she ran the offense. She had a great plan and was making adjustments where needed.”

The Bruins have played only two games at Pauley Pavilion this season, forcing them to adjust to the challenge that comes with road games. UCLA has played in some of the most difficult Big Ten venues, including Penn State’s Rec Hall and Maturi Pavilion – which always draw in big crowds – across just three conference away matches.

But Duffey said the hostile environments may be a reason for the Bruins’ road success.

“It fires me up and gets me going even more,” Duffey said. “In some of those long rallies, their crowd would really get going, so we talked about in our huddles just taking our own breaths and focusing on our side, not letting the noise get in our heads, but I think a lot of us really like it.”

With the players on the court facing long rallies, the Bruins’ sideline helps maintain the squad’s energy.

Graduate student middle blocker Phekran Kong has become a vocal leader on the sideline, with an undisclosed injury limiting her playing time this season.

“We definitely have one of the most fun benches in the country,” Kong said. “The energy that we present off the sidelines is just an extension of our team. We like to say that it’s 18 versus six every single night.”

Kong made her first appearance since Sept. 26 on Wednesday, posting four kills on a .167 clip and continuing to bolster the team’s energy.

UCLA will attempt to transport that intensity back to Pauley Pavilion for the first leg of its home series against USC. Its Saturday contest will mark the 50th rivalry game between the two programs, with No. 22 USC leading in all-time wins, boasting 30 to UCLA’s 19.

The Bruins have won just one victory across their last seven matchups against the Trojans. UCLA’s offense, which currently boasts a .231 clip, will face a USC back row that ranks 10th in the Big Ten with 12.87 digs per set.

UCLA will have the opportunity to notch its first win at home when it hosts USC at noon Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.