LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Fort Valley State University Men's Volleyball (1-1) battled throughout but came up short in a hard-fought road loss to UCLA (5-0, 1-0 MPSF) Thursday evening.

The Wildcats opened the match with the first two points on kills from Muhammad Mbaye and Logan Rogers. UCLA responded to tie the score at four following an FVSU attack error and a Bruin kill. Fort Valley State briefly reclaimed the lead at 6-5 after a UCLA service error, but the Bruins answered with back-to-back points to go ahead 8-6. The two teams traded points until a three-point UCLA run extended the lead to 17-12, which proved to be the difference in the opening set. The Wildcats closed within three at 24-21 following a pair of blocks, but UCLA secured a 25-21 win in set one.

Set two began with each team exchanging points before Fort Valley State used consecutive Bruin errors to take a 5-4 lead. UCLA answered immediately, capitalizing on two Wildcat miscues to move ahead 6-5. The Bruins relied on a balanced offensive attack in the frame, stringing together four separate three-point runs to build separation. Isaiah Fedd sparked a late push with a kill to make it 24-16, but UCLA closed the set with an error followed by a kill to claim a 25-17 victory.

The Bruins jumped out to a 4-1 advantage to start the third set. Fort Valley State continued to compete point-for-point before UCLA used consecutive three-point runs to extend its lead to 14-8 and later 18-9. With their backs against the wall, the Wildcats attempted a rally after a Bruin service error and a Taviian Martin service ace cut the deficit to 23-15. UCLA responded with back-to-back points to take the set 25-15 and complete the sweep, 3-0.

Fedd led the Wildcats offensively with eight kills, while Rogers added seven kills and hit an impressive .417 on the night. Jeremyah Gaston paced the offense with 18 of the Wildcats' 23 assists.

Defensively, Gaston and Rogers led the team with four digs apiece. Fort Valley State recorded eight total blocks, with Mbaye leading the effort with three block assists and Fedd adding two.

The Wildcats continue their West Coast swing Friday night with a 7 p.m. PST / 10 p.m. EST matchup against defending national champion Long Beach State University.