Gabriela Jaquez leapt out of her chair and whipped her fist by way of the air. Kiki Rice joined in, leaping up and down along with her arms wrapped round Jaquez’s shoulders, broad smiles splitting their faces as they held telephones within the air to document a second that was equal components joyful and historic.
UCLA earned its highest NCAA match place in class historical past Sunday, securing the match’s No. 1 general seed.
Coming off their first convention match title since 2006, a comeback win over USC within the Huge Ten match ultimate, the Bruins (30-2) lead Spokane regional 1. They may host the winner of No. 16 seed UC San Diego (20-15) versus No. 16 seed Southern (20-14) within the first spherical at Pauley Pavilion at 7 p.m. Friday. The sport will air on ESPN. If UCLA wins, it should face the winner of No. 8 Richmond (27-6) versus No. 9 Georgia Tech (22-10).
“We’ve focused all year long on ‘earn what you want,’” UCLA coach Cori Shut stated. “Bottom line is your work will speak for itself and just focus on what you’re earning and being present that day and I think that’s what led us to getting the seed that we have.”
The Bruins have received 13 consecutive NCAA match video games at Pauley Pavilion, together with 10 straight as a top-four seed internet hosting first- and second-round video games.
The house courtroom benefit has helped the Bruins attain the Candy 16 six occasions of their final seven NCAA match appearances. However with a proficient junior class led by middle Lauren Betts and Rice, who had been, respectively, the No. 1 and No. 2 prospects of their recruiting class, UCLA has grander expectations than two NCAA match wins.
The Bruins are attempting to succeed in their first NCAA Closing 4 and win their first nationwide championship because the 1978 AIAW crown.
“No. 1 overall seed doesn’t get us to the Final Four, doesn’t get us to the national championship game,” Rice stated. “We have to go out there and earn it.”
The trail to the Closing 4 in Tampa is highlighted by a possible rematch in opposition to No. 3 seed Louisiana State, who knocked the Bruins off within the Candy 16 final season.
A murmur unfold by way of the gang assembled on UCLA’s Ann Meyers Drysdale follow courtroom, the place the group hosted a watch celebration for donors, followers and program alumni when LSU was introduced in UCLA’s Spokane regional 1. A number of gamers and employees members cheered on the potential Elite Eight matchup.
“We really wouldn’t complain at another opportunity to go at them,” Shut stated to the gang between a industrial break.
An excellent juicier matchup looms within the Closing 4 as crosstown USC took the No. 1 seed in Spokane regional 4. The groups have performed 3 times this season already, with UCLA going 1-2 within the rivalry. The Bruins avenged their solely two regular-season losses within the Huge Ten match championship and flexed their win by displaying the trophy and the championship web within the foyer of the Mo Ostin Heart. Donors took photographs with the trophy on their approach into Sunday’s watch celebration. It was displayed proudly on the middle of the room whereas gamers watched the present.
Sunday’s historic postseason seed is simply the most recent accomplishment for the record-setting group that already spent 13 weeks ranked first within the nation, reaching this system’s highest rating within the Related Press ballot. With two sell-out crowds that equaled this system’s attendance document set final 12 months in opposition to USC, the Bruins additionally had their greatest attendance for dwelling video games ever.
Standing in entrance of a packed health club, Shut outlined a brand new document in sight this weekend: postseason sell-outs.
“This is really important for us,” Shut instructed the gang. “We need to have Pauley rocking and share it with our city.”
