UCLA women’s volleyball hosts first two rounds of NCAA championships

With a five-set win against USC last Friday, the women’s volleyball team hopes to continue its momentum on the court for the NCAA Tournament.

“We don’t have a goal, no expectations, no overall goals,” said coach Mike Sealy. “Just try to play our best.”

On Sunday, the NCAA announced 2014 Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship bracket and top 16 seeds. UCLA was named the No. 12 seed and placed into the Louisville region bracket. The top four seeds were Stanford, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, respectively.

“To be seeded is great so we get the host. We had great results and we are deserving of the seed,” Sealy said.

As they prepare for the first and second rounds of the tournament, hosting the game at Pauley Pavilion will be just their second game this season after last Friday’s game against USC.

“We are really excited to be hosting,” said senior middle blocker Zoë Nightingale. “We only played one game in Pauley so far, so everyone is really excited.”

UCLA has qualified for 32 of 33 tournaments so far and is one of 10 Pac-12 teams in the tournament. UCLA concluded the regular season with a record of 20-11 and a Pac-12 record of 11-9, which puts it fourth in the conference.

Following a first round matchup of Long Beach State vs. San Diego at 5:30 p.m., the Bruins will host Long Island University Brooklyn’s Blackbirds on Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.

The Blackbirds are undefeated in the Northeast Conference with a record of 14-0 and 25-6 overall. The winners of each first round will face off the next day at 7 p.m. If the Bruins win both the first and second round, they will head into the Louisville Regional on Dec. 12 and 13.

UCLA hosted LIU Brooklyn back in 2012, in the first round of NCAA tournament, with a clean three-set win (25-13, 25-15, 25-12). The Bruins are trying to focus more on gaining their momentum in these upcoming home games, as they look to head into the regionals.

“We are just trying to focus on our side, little plays that we can control,” said junior libero Karly Drolson. “Also team chemistry, coming together, being positive and working on skills that we have been working on the whole year.”

Because the team had a one-year hiatus in 2013, its comeback in this championship will be meaningful.

“I think going into this tournament we have a newfound appreciation for being there,” Nightingale said. “Just really appreciate being in the tournament like getting excited for every game because we didn’t do it last year.”

Email Song at jsong@media.ucla.edu.