A season-series rubber match will take place in the NCAA tournament.
UCLA men’s volleyball (22-4, 11-1 MPSF) will take on No. 1 seed Long Beach State (20-5, 8-2 Big West) in the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship semifinal on Thursday evening at Pauley Pavilion.

This post was updated May 3 at 8:32 p.m.
With zero postseason appearances to his name, Sam Burgi entered the second set of an NCAA tournament match. 
Following his substitution, the redshirt junior outside hitter would remain in the contest – and cap off the third set. 
“Burgi goes down the list as big-time performances from guys coming off the bench when it matters most,” said coach John Speraw.

Nineteen national championships.
Two three-peats and a four-peat to boot.
Or as redshirt sophomore middle blocker Merrick McHenry would say, “O.G. Bruin volleyball.”
“UCLA hasn’t won since I was six,” McHenry said.

The Bruins will battle on familiar territory in the NCAA tournament.
UCLA men’s volleyball (21-4, 11-1 MPSF) will take on Pepperdine (19-9, 7-5) on Tuesday in the opening round of the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship at Pauley Pavilion.

In 2018, the Bruins hosted and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Four years later, the same will hold true.
After failing to automatically qualify to the tournament, UCLA men’s volleyball (21-4, 11-1 MPSF) earned an at-large bid for the 2022 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, marking the team’s return to the biggest stage after a four-year absence.

In each of their previous two matches, the Bruins had trailed one set to none but emerged victorious.
However, the cliche “third time’s the charm” held true for the blue and gold’s opponent Thursday.

The Bruins won every conference matchup this season except for one.
That lone loss came at the hands of their upcoming postseason opponent.
No. 1 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (21-3, 11-1 MPSF) will take on No.