Maryland volleyball looked to bounce back in its first-ever game at Pauley Pavilion after being swept by USC on Thursday. Despite improved play, Maryland looked outmatched, losing in straight sets to UCLA.

UCLA opened with a 6-0 run powered by the presence of Marianna Singletary at the net and behind the service line — she continued to plague Maryland the rest of the night.

Out of a timeout, Ajack Malual’s strong cross-court swing sparked a 3-point run. Despite UCLA’s scrappy defense, Malual continued to terminate early en route to a .417 mark and six kills in the opening frame. Maryland seemed to find a rhythm, but remained outmatched by UCLA’s two-way play.

Maryland called its second timeout after gritty blocking coverage by Ally Williams was not enough, and the Bruins’ right side Anastasija Ivkovic converted for the 14-8 lead.

Eva Rohrbach’s single kill was the only offense outside of Malual in the first set, leaving the Terps in a difficult position. Maryland’s combination of coverage and blocking kept it close, but service errors damaged the momentum.

UCLA’s balanced offensive attack stayed the course, with Maggie Li outmaneuvering the Terps, before Ivkovic ended the opening set, 25–15.

Maryland opened the second set well, scoring off a stuff block by Duru Gökçen. But quickly, a booming kill by Cheridyn Leverette and a block by Li and Singletary gave the Bruins the lead.

A tight pass by Malual, forcing a tough set, led to Haley Melby being blocked on the left side of the net. Melby responded, but that ended up being her only kill of the night. Maryland trailed 6–3, with the Kentucky transfer’s struggles continuing — she hit negative in both LA games.

In the second set, Maryland head coach Adam Hughes changed to the two libero system, having Ally Williams in for defence and Alex McGillivray in for serve receive.

A stuff by Olivia Ruy against Brooklyn Briscoe left Maryland trailing by two. The Maryland wall proved pointless against Leverette, who exploded for a sharp cross-court swing, ended up in the seats.

Leverette’s swing powered 3 straight kills by the Bruins before Ruy was able to provide some much-needed offense. Back-to-back kills by Ruy pulled Maryland within 4, trailing 11–7.

Service errors by UCLA kept Maryland in the set. Leverette’s miss midway through the set would ignite a quick 5-1 run by the Terps, who suddenly trailed by only two. Ruy continued her strong play in California, not recording an error in the first two sets; her fourth kill of the second set kept Maryland close.

After a Hughes challenge, replay showed Malual did catch the fingers of Leverette with a powerful shot that ended up touching out of bounds, pulling Maryland within two. Maryland’s 4-1 run tied the set at 22, forcing a UCLA timeout.

Out of the timeout, Singletary met Malual one-on-one, with the Bruin sending her out-of-system swing straight to the floor and ending the comeback effort emphatically at 25–22.

Rohrbach opened the scoring for Maryland in the third set with a quick slide attack. After the play, Maryland’s block was finally able to catch Leverette, pulling the Terps even at two.

Ruy’s clever shot over the arms of Singletary sparked a 3-point run by the Terps. Maryland’s service pressure continued to trouble the Bruins, as it recorded two aces in the final set.

Desperate for outside offense, Hughes subbed Sydney Bryant in. Soon after, her off-speed shot hit hardwood. The Maryland lead was pushed to two before the Terps’ backline allowed UCLA to fire back.

A quick 4–1 run by the Bruins forced Hughes to call a timeout. Rohrbach responded with a quick slide play for a kill out of the timeout, her fourth of the night. Leverette and Duffey’s smooth connection in transition offered a quick response. Leverette ended the game with 15 kills, hitting .520, a career best. UCLA led 14–10.

A swing by Ruy was originally awarded to Maryland, but replay showed it caught hair — which does not count as a touch — on its way out, pushing the Bruin lead to five. After the play, UCLA’s block continued to limit Malual and added to the lead.

The Ruy and Malual tandem continued to produce in the final set; however, they were met by Li and Ivkovic along the way. Kills by the Bruins’ pin hitters put the Bruins up eight.

Maryland responded with back-to-back blocks by Gökçen, Ruy and Malual on the pins. Bruin middle blocker Brooklyn Briscoe saw an improved connection with her setter, and her third kill of the set put the Bruins up seven.

Malual’s service pressure powered a quick three-point run by the Terps.

Singletary’s eighth kill proved too much to handle, giving UCLA the match point. A missed serve by Leverette extended the third set only momentarily before Singletary sealed the game with her match-leading eighth block of the night, and UCLA took set three, 25–20.

1. Ruy’s roadtrip. Maryland’s search for production on the left side of the net continues deep into conference play. Ruy’s performance in the first two sets and against USC, the second leading scorer in both games, could earn her a spot in the lineup moving forward.

2. Consistently inconsistent. Maryland’s rollercoaster road trip saw a close fight against one of the better Big Ten teams in Michigan State before a season-low outing against USC. Against the Bruins, Maryland looked better than they did Thursday, but they lost in every major stat, including blocking, recording six compared to UCLA’s 10.

3. Middle production. Duru Gökçen struggles on the offensive side of the ball continue. She looked outmatched against the two-way threat of Singletary, hitting -.500 on six swings Saturday.