When I look back at my five years at UCLA, I can’t help but smile and feel flooded with so many positive emotions: happiness, contentment, love, trust, support, fulfillment and an overall feeling of pure gratitude.

After a delayed start because of the COVID-19 pandemic, UCLA Athletics had quite a year full of big moments. Ranging from adding national championship No. 119 to its trophy case to a revival of a long-storied program to a Michelle Obama tweet, Daily Bruin Sports takes a look at the very best moments of the 2020-2021 year in UCLA sports.

The Bruins may have come up short in the postseason, but the accolades poured in anyways.
After No. 2 seed UCLA women’s beach volleyball was defeated by No.

This post was updated May 9 at 6:24 p.m.
The Bruins’ quest for a third consecutive national championship came to an end at the hands of their crosstown rivals.

Losing to the Lions by a score of 3-2 on Friday, the Bruins could flip a court and hold all others to set up a national championship rematch against their crosstown rivals. 
This time, the two-time defending national champions ended the contest without a loss on any court. 
No.

Once again, it came down to court five.

This time, Jaden Whitmarsh kept the Bruins’ three-peat hopes alive with a dual-winning service ace.
No. 1 seed UCLA beach volleyball (31-4, 10-0 Pac-12) took down No.

The Bruins’ quest for a third straight national championship will continue.
Coming off its first loss in the tournament since 2018, No. 1 seed UCLA (30-4, 10-0 Pac-12) defeated No.