Six set points fought off, multiple battles at the net, two successful challenges, digs receiving audible reactions from the crowd and bodies flying everywhere – including into the scorer’s table.

And that was just the first set.

Putting its bodies on the line – literally – ultimately was not enough for UCLA women’s volleyball (15-7, 6-5 Big Ten), which fell 3-2 to No. 21 Minnesota (13-6, 7-4) in a grueling five-set match Friday night at Pauley Pavilion.

“This has kind of been the story of our season,” said coach Matt Werle. “We were playing really, really well at times, and we just can’t sustain that high level for long enough. But ultimately we’re working towards something bigger, and I think there’s progress that’s being made, but we just can’t complete a good two and a half hours of (that) level right now.”

The match opened with a slow start for the Bruins, as the Golden Gophers immediately took a 4-0 lead, forcing Werle to burn a timeout.

After giving up one more point, UCLA bounced back. Senior outside hitter Maggie Li kicked things off with a kill off the opposing libero’s hands to get the Bruins on the board, before a forced error and kill from sophomore outside hitter Eliana Urzua helped bring them within two.

The set continued with the teams trading points. A Golden Gopher serve was called out, but after a successful challenge, the visiting squad extended their lead to 12-8. With scrappy blocking coverage from senior libero Kat Lutz, Li faced high hands twice before putting one away.

The refs gave the next point to Minnesota on a block-touch call, but Werle successfully challenged to bring the deficit to 12-10.

The two-point gap between squads continued, going blow-for-blow until Minnesota finally pulled ahead to reach 24-19, earning its first set point.

But the Bruins were not done yet.

Fighting off six set points in a row – spearheaded by fifth-year middle blocker Marianna Singletary’s overpass kill and two blocks – the Bruins pulled themselves back into the set and then ahead to take the first frame 26-24.

Singletary finished the night with a double-double – 13 kills and 10 blocks, both team highs. Three other players finished the night with double-digit kills: Urzua with 12 and eight blocks, Li with 10 and sophomore right-side hitter Mija Bendziute with another 12.

The second set started and ended in similar fashion. Finding themselves dug into a hole they had to climb out of, the Bruins fought back, going back and forth until they reached 19 apiece. Sophomore defensive specialist Sakura Codling began rotating into the back row, making several key plays, including a one-handed dig to keep a long rally alive.

The Westwood squad closed out the match 25-19 and carried its momentum into the third. And then things got spooky for UCLA.

Another long battle between the Bruins and the Golden Gophers reached 22-22 before the opposing squad took a 24-22 lead. UCLA once again had to fight off set points, but could not hold out long enough, falling 26-24.

Set four followed similar trends, with the visiting squad closing it out at 25-19.

Throughout the match, opposing servers consistently aimed for sophomore outside hitter Ava Utterback, forcing her to show her serve-receive technique. She finished the night with seven digs, matching freshman setter Vivian Hickman.

Coming down to a fifth set – the second consecutive match to go all five sets and the third-straight home match coming down to a decisive 15 points – UCLA managed to take a narrow lead, aided by a pair of kills and a solo stuff block from sophomore middle blocker Hazel Alevok.

But it would not be enough, as an onslaught of kills from Minnesota took UCLA by storm to hand the latter a 15-8 loss.

With the team turning around to face another ranked opponent in No. 8 Wisconsin on Sunday, it is not letting tonight’s match linger.

“One of the huge positives we took away from it is Hazel, Sarafa and Sakura coming in and doing great,” Urzua said. “Hazel getting blocks, block touches – that’s exactly what we needed. We’re all super proud of them, and I think that’s a big positive tip we took from the match.”