A building is only as strong as its foundation.

And the Bruins have proved that the ground they stand on remains firm, and the glue that holds them together is binding.

That groundwork has elicited a historic start, as the Westwood squad has opened the season with the program’s best record since 1984, when the Bruins went on to finish 38-0 and capture the school’s 11th national championship.

No. 1 UCLA men’s volleyball (18-0, 5-0 MPSF) will face No. 14 Stanford (9-8, 6-0), which rides a six-match winning streak, Friday and Saturday at Maples Pavilion to resume conference play.

UCLA has continued its undefeated run after winning the Outrigger Invitational in Hawai‘i, where it convincingly defeated two ranked opponents. After sweeping No. 14 Lewis on March 13, UCLA had one of its most intense matches of the year when it defeated No. 3 Hawai‘i in straight sets in front of more than 10,000 fans.

Senior middle blocker Cameron Thorne played a key role in that success, recording 15 kills across the two matches while providing a consistent presence at the net with eight combined blocks. Following the tournament, Thorne, along with sophomore outside hitter Sean Kelly and senior setter Andrew Rowan, earned All-Tournament Team honors.

Rowan once again proved to be the catalyst for UCLA’s offense, dishing out 36 assists against the Rainbow Warriors – orchestrating a .395 team hitting percentage – while also delivering a match-high four aces to bring his season total to 35, good for fourth in the nation. His performance earned him Most Outstanding Player honors at the Hawai’i tournament.

After the tournament, coach John Hawks said that Thorne and Rowan work together to capitalize on their chemistry.

“(Thorne) has been doing some really nice things in the practice gym and working really hard on his connections with Andrew, so I’m not surprised with their results,” Hawks said.

The last time UCLA and Stanford met in March 2025, the Bruins earned two victories, including a straight-set sweep. However, the Cardinal is coming into this weekend on a six-match win streak, including two wins over then-No. 7 BYU, with much of that success coming at home.

Opposite Moses Wagner has led the offense, averaging 3.35 kills per set on a .274 hitting percentage. He currently ranks fifth in the MPSF in points per set and was named AVCA National Player of the Week the week prior after delivering 41 combined kills against BYU on March 13 and 14.

The return of several All-Americans from a team that reached the NCAA championship match last year has bolstered UCLA’s success this season. That experience has translated into strong on-court chemistry and consistency throughout the lineup.

“From the start to now, it’s crazy. I think we’re all way closer, and we flow a lot better,” said redshirt junior libero Christopher Connelly. “We move as one now.”

UCLA has not only lived up to its preseason No. 1 ranking but has positioned itself as one of the most formidable teams in recent memory, with the potential to turn an already remarkable season into a historic one.

And the Bruins aren’t getting complacent.

“Each match is equally a challenge,” Thorne said. “We take each match one by one, so we don’t overlook any opponents. No matter how bad or good, we approach every game the same way.”

Despite UCLA’s unbeaten record, the upcoming stretch presents a significant test, beginning with a Stanford team that has found its rhythm.

“We need to be tested,” Hawks said. “We’re going to have some matches at Stanford, some at Pepperdine, and we’re going to be challenged.”