This post was updated April 21 at 10:23 p.m.

No. 1 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (26-1, 13-1 MPSF) enters the MPSF tournament with a first-round match-up against No. 8 seed Concordia University Irvine (7-18, 4-10) on Wednesday evening in Provo, Utah. UCLA achieved a share of the MPSF regular season title after matching No. 2 seed Pepperdine’s record – the same team that handed the Bruins their sole loss this year, and the team they lost to in last season’s MPSF semifinals. The Daily Bruin Sports men’s volleyball beat predicts where the Bruins will finish in this season’s conference gauntlet.

Jacob Nguyen
Assistant Sports editor
Prediction: MPSF champions

I’m sorry, I wish I could’ve made this a more interesting read by being a devil’s advocate.

But the near-perfect synergy of this Westwood squad means you’re reading the same prediction three times.

Sorry for spoiling the next two predictions, too, but maybe that was already expected.

Simply put, UCLA was virtually unbeatable. I mean, that was evident from just the stat sheet and record book. However, the depth of talent on this squad is unparalleled, from senior setter Andrew Rowan’s nation-leading assist-per-set mark to senior middle blocker Cameron Thorne and sophomore outside hitter Sean Kelly leading the MPSF in hitting percentage to redshirt junior libero and national champion Christopher Connelly fortifying the back row.

The Bruins endured four five-set matches this season, the first three of which they won, including a reverse sweep of the reigning national champions, Long Beach State. Of those three victories, UCLA won the final set by an average of five points, with all games happening on the road, meaning it knows how to close out strong in tough environments.

Meanwhile, two of those affairs saw rematches in Pauley Pavilion, during which the Bruins squarely beat the Beach and crosstown rival Trojans in four.

Let’s make an analogy.

When discussing the NBA “GOAT” debate, people often jostle between Michael Jordan – lauded for going 6-0 in the NBA finals and consistently dominating, never really finding himself in a pit – and LeBron James – who dragged subpar teams to heights they probably shouldn’t reach. It’s almost like asking, “Would you rather be the Goliath reigning supreme, or David who was able to slay Goliath?”

But the Bruins are both.

And the one game that they dropped this year?

A two-point loss to Pepperdine at Firestone Fieldhouse, during which the final play came under narrow review in an arena with home court advantages, lower ceilings and vigorous fan attendance.

[Related: Fumbles in Firestone Field: The Waves wash away the Bruins’ 20-game win streak]

UCLA is practically unbeatable. The one time they do lose, it takes a laundry list of circumstances.

So when you account for that deficiency by pitting the Bruins in a neutral arena, it’s safe to say they can break their three-year dry spell.

Jaelyn Chung
Daily Bruin contributor
Prediction: MPSF champions

11-0 at home.

This feat mirrors the program’s elite standard set in 2023, when the team went 10-0 at home.

In 2023, a relentless drive culminated in an MPSF Championship victory, where the Bruins secured the title by sweeping both Grand Canyon and Stanford – the program’s most recent conference title.

Despite a complete transition in leadership – the 2023 roster was coached by John Speraw – the program remains in experienced hands.

In his second season with the team, coach John Hawks has demonstrated a remarkable ability to maintain a championship-level pedigree. Throughout his short tenure at UCLA’s helm, Hawks has earned a staggering 48-8 overall record, and the team’s momentum appears to be accelerating as the postseason approaches.

Hawks is the essential tool to bring the Bruins on top once again.

Stability on the court comes from a core of three veterans from the 2023 roster – outside hitter Zach Rama, opposite David Decker and Rowan.

Rama and Decker average a combined 6.16 kills per set on a blistering .337 clip. Rowan ties down the offensive front with 11.54 assists per set, ranked first in the NCAA.

Rowan’s astronomical number of assists this season, totaling 1,069, proves the Bruins’ ability to stay in rhythm and prevent out-of-system plays.

Having experienced the highest levels of collegiate competition, these athletes provide the “anchor” necessary to navigate elite pressure.

For this high-caliber squad, securing another MPSF tournament victory is viewed not merely as a goal – it may as well be a guaranteed outcome.

The real question is: will their level of play be enough to win the NCAA championship?

And UCLA has yet to show any signs of letting down this postseason.

Steven Chaparyan
Daily Bruin contributor
Prediction: MPSF champions

Two points.

That is what stood between the Bruins and a perfect regular season.

And that statistic does not even begin to explain why there has been no team in the MPSF – or the entire nation – better than UCLA in 2026.

Coming off a heartbreaking end to last season with a sweep to the eventual national champion Long Beach State, the squad has returned with a vengeance. Finishing with just one loss during the year, it defined what the term “home court advantage” means by going 11-0 at Pauley Pavilion.

No matter the opponent, the Bruins dominated. Hawks’ group posted a higher hitting percentage than its opponents in all but one game throughout the regular season, maintaining an unrivaled offensive efficiency. Thorne and Kelly also claimed the top two spots in the MPSF in hitting percentages, with clips of .509 and .407, respectively.

Frequently providing his teammates with scoring opportunities was Rowan, whose ability to space the floor and effectively set them up has likely been the best the nation has seen this season. Rowan finished atop the conference with 11.49 assists per set and contributed service pressure at the same time, placing second in the MPSF with 0.54 service aces per set, only behind fellow teammate Decker.

And even when the squad saw its lone glimpse of defeat in a two-point loss to Pepperdine in five sets April 2, it immediately displayed its ability to bounce back.

Just two days later, the Bruins faced the Waves back home and came away with a win in four sets, led by three players posting double-digit kills. The blue and gold haven’t needed to rebound much at all this season, but when presented with the task, they delivered.

Pepperdine may have knocked UCLA out of the MPSF tournament in 2025, but this time around, I see no reason why the Bruins will not continue their regular-season domination of the conference.

In 2026, the MPSF runs through Westwood.