This post was updated Nov. 5 at 12:53 a.m.

UCLA women’s volleyball (13-9, 7-5 Big Ten) got itself back in the win column, defeating Washington (10-12, 5-7) in four sets at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday. Now more than halfway into the conference slate, the Bruins have struggled to find consistency throughout their 2025 campaign. Assistant Sports editor Gabriela Garcia shares five takeaways from the Bruins’ 2025 season so far.

Leverette is that girl

When you think of UCLA women’s volleyball, you think of Cheridyn Leverette.

The senior outside hitter had a breakout junior season last year – recording 435 kills – and she hasn’t slowed down since then.

Leverette recorded 15 kills on a .250 hitting percentage to help power the offense against the Huskies on Sunday.

She leads the squad with 297 total kills and 3.81 kills per set. That is 119 more than redshirt junior middle blocker Marianna Singletary – who boasts the second-most kills on the team. Additionally, Leverette produces 1.56 more kills per set compared to her second-highest-ranking teammate, freshman outside hitter Eliana Urzua.

The Hampton, Georgia, local has solidified her status as the Bruins’ main offensive weapon.

Coach Alfee Reft has attested to Leverette’s leadership on and off the court. As a senior who boasts a commanding voice on the court, she steps up when the team needs her in big moments, helping to escape long rallies.

Not only can Leverette attack at the net, but her powerful attacking approach also helps keep opposing defenses on their toes.

Leverette was named to the AVCA Player of the Year Award Watch List in July and has since proven why she made the list. If the Bruins make a push for the postseason to end a three-year drought, then Leverette will be at the front of the offensive charge.

Sophomore? No problem.

The Bruins were in need of a new offensive commander with former starting setter Audrey Pak’s graduation last spring.

Reft turned to the transfer portal and came back with graduate student Zayna Meyer from Long Beach State. Meyer was the 2023 Big West Setter of the Year and led the Beach’s offense to a .222 team clip last season – which ranked third in the conference.

But Meyer has only appeared in eight matches this season.

Instead, sophomore setter Kate Duffey has taken the reins.

Duffey made just two starts as a freshman but has appeared in all 22 games this season, starting in all but one. The Ventura, California, local has made taking over the starting setter spot look easy.

Duffey ranks sixth in the Big Ten with 9.78 assists per set and leads the Bruins with 23 service aces. Duffey notched 44 assists and a career-high 22 digs against Washington. She leads the team in assists with 724 and ranks second in digs with 172.

On the court, Duffey is an all-around player who has allowed the Bruins’ offensive attack to thrive. The Bruins currently boast a .227 hitting percentage and have hit above a .300 clip in seven of their 22 matches.

The sophomore has led the Bruins all season, and she continues to develop as the Bruins get deeper into their 2025 campaign. Her confidence, court awareness and offensive strategies will continue to carry the Bruins throughout the Big Ten season.

Defensive takeover

The Bruins finished 10th in digs per set and allowed the fifth-highest opponent hitting percentage in the Big Ten last season.

They rank second-highest and fourth-lowest in the same categories this season, respectively.

The squad’s defense has been steady – it is the heart of the team and motivates the squad throughout matches. And as the sports tale goes…

Defense wins championships.

Strong defensive performances have defined the Bruins’ wins this season.

Sunday was no different.

UCLA notched a season-high 87 digs and held the Huskies to a .095 hitting percentage.

At the heart of the back row is sophomore defensive specialist/libero Lola Schumacher, who boasts a conference-high 4.27 digs per set.

Another testament to the Bruins’ defensive turnaround could be the addition of assistant coach Nick Vogel, who joined the coaching staff this offseason after helming the same role with the UCLA men’s volleyball squad prior to his transition. Vogel – a defensive coaching specialist– has bolstered the squad’s defensive tenacity.

The Bruin block has shown significant development from last season. UCLA ranked second-to-last in the conference in blocks per set and dead last in total blocks, while the unit now ranks 11th in both categories.

UCLA will have a lot more opportunities to add to its win column if the defense continues to blossom.

Key transfers

Reft picked up five transfers from the portal to fill roster gaps in the offseason.

Most new-look squads often don’t click right away, though.

But two transfers – Singletary and Schumacher – have already stamped their mark.

Singletary has played in every set for the Bruins this season, and Schumacher missed just three games earlier in the year because of an undisclosed injury.

Middle blocker Singletary has found a home at the net, leading the team with 103 blocks and 1.30 blocks per set, which puts her fourth in the Big Ten. She is largely the reason why the team’s blocking numbers have improved this season.

Schumacher is a force in the back row.

The Wisconsin transfer has helped reshape the Bruins’ defense, providing a new voice and a different leadership point of view. As the libero, she has commanded the court. Whether it be defensive adjustments or huge celebrations, you will hear Schumacher if you are watching a UCLA women’s volleyball game. She leads the squad with 299 digs this season.

Junior outside hitter and California transfer Maggie Li has earned more playing time, since fellow outside hitter Urzua is dealing with an undisclosed injury. Li has taken advantage of the opportunity, posting double-digit kills in all three outings since taking over for Urzua.

Although all five transfers have made contributions to the squad, Singletary and Schumacher have particularly left their marks on the Bruin squad and have been key to its success this season.

Consistency is the thief of joy

I won’t lie, the Bruins have kept me on my toes this season.

Many had high expectations for the Bruins, and they were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten in the preseason coaches poll. And although they have shown glimpses of their full potential, they have also shown how difficult it is for a new team to gel.

UCLA has not won more than two conference games in a row. The squad beat then-No. 15 Penn State at the beginning of its conference campaign, then went on to sweep then-No. 14 Minnesota and then-No. 22 USC. UCLA also lost to then-unranked Indiana and unranked Oregon across that span.

It often seems as if the Bruins are either all in or all out when they play.

And their losses have shown trends. If the defense struggles at the start of a match, then the offense does not compensate. The Bruins need to find stability and develop a stronger mindset in the second half of their Big Ten slate if they want to achieve consistency.

UCLA currently places in the bottom half of the RPI rankings, sitting at No. 37. With eight regular-season matches left and just 64 NCAA tournament spots available, the Bruins need to be firing on all cylinders to reach the postseason for the first time in the Reft era.