This post was updated Feb. 24 at 10:09 p.m.

About 700 to 1,000 people attempt to climb Mount Everest every year.

At 29,032 feet, every step leaves less room for error.

But reaching the summit isn’t new for the Bruins.

And although being at the top is one thing, staying there is another.

No. 1 UCLA men’s volleyball (12-0, 3-0 MPSF) is back on the road again, first against No. 12 UC Santa Barbara (8-5) in Santa Barbara on Wednesday night before heading to Irvine to face No. 4 UC Irvine (12-1) on Friday night.

The Bruins currently hold a 39-17 all-time record against the Gauchos, and the Bruins won their last matchup 3-1 on Feb. 28 last year. They also lead the all-time series 33-21 against the Anteaters and have not lost a match since 2017.

At 12-0 – UCLA’s best start since 2016 – the top-ranked team now faces the challenge of defending its crown.

With the stakes in mind, senior middle blocker Cameron Thorne said maintaining a high standard is key, regardless of who is on the other side of the net.

“We’re going to try to go out and do the same thing we did tonight,” Thorne said after UCLA’s win 3-1 against No. 2 Long Beach State on Feb. 20. “Get a win, but we’re not going to take them lightly.”

UCSB recently upset then-No. 6 Pepperdine in straight sets, marking its first top-ten win of the season and first time beating the Wave since 2023. The Gauchos’ lineup features outside hitter Riggs Guy, who recorded 25 kills at a .559 clip in their last matchup against the Bruins last season, and middle blocker Josh Aruya, who has posted 31 total blocks and 43 kills at a .486 clip this year.

“Santa Barbara had a nice win last week,” said coach John Hawks. “They’re a hot team, and we’ve got a different challenge ahead of us, so I’m excited about that. I embrace challenges and look forward – and we’re not looking back anymore.”

Meanwhile, the Anteaters have welcomed a trio of newcomers. The incoming class includes outside hitter Andrej Jokanovic, who tallied a career-high 23 kills against Concordia on Feb. 6 and currently hits at .335. The Cannes, France, local was named MVP after scoring 158 points across nine matches at the U19 Boys World Championship last summer.

Another addition is outside hitter Andreas Brinck, who has dominated the international beach volleyball sta

ge. Before making his collegiate volleyball debut, Brinck won a gold medal at the U18 Beachvolley European Championship in 2023 and was also named MVP at the 2024 U19 NEVZA tournament. The final addition is outside hitter/opposite Trevor Clark, a transfer from San Diego Mesa. The Lake Elsinore, California, local sported a season-high 13 kills against then-No. 8 BYU on Jan. 23, and currently boasts a .583 clip.

Still, senior setter Andrew Rowan said the Bruins’ standard remains the same, regardless of who is across the net.

“I think a big piece was just saying that we can compete with anybody,” Rowan said. “Seeing that we can compete with anybody, seeing the level that we can get to in the game and environment like this and trying to recreate that – whoever the opponent is.”