Friday, September 5
Fort Worth, Texas
6 PM
TCU
vs
UCLA
Preview: No. 19 UCLA
9/4/2025 9:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Volleyball hosts No. 19 UCLA in pair of ranked matches
FORT WORTH – Volleyball is back in Schollmaier Arena. No. 24 TCU returns home to host No. 19 UCLA in a pair of top-25 showdowns on Friday, Sept. 5, and Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. CT, respectively.
TCU NOTABLES
• TCU is coming off its best win of the Jason Williams Era. The Horned Frogs defeated the defending national champions, No. 5 Penn State, in an emotional five-set thriller on Monday at the State Farm Volleyball Showcase.
• After beginning the season ranked for the first time in program history, TCU moved up to No. 24 in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Frogs are in the midst of a stretch of five straight matches against ranked opponents to open the season, including three in the top 10.
• TCU hosts No. 19 UCLA for the second straight season. The Frogs won last year's matchup in Fort Worth, 3-1.
• The Frogs were lights out at the service line in week one, tallying 19 aces. They rank 43rd nationally with 2.11 per set.
• Senior Jalyn Gibson was voted to the Preseason All-Big 12 team by the league's head coaches.
• TCU returns five starters and 10 letterwinners from a season ago, including its stat leader in blocks (Sarah Sylvester, 146) and digs (Gibson, 330). The Frogs also welcomed eight newcomers (four freshmen and four transfers).
• Heading into the 2025 season, TCU was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 Conference, receiving one first place vote.
SCOUTING REPORT
Coming into the weekend ranked No. 19, UCLA boasts a 1-1 record. The Bruins opened their 2025 season on the road at Long Beach, winning 3-2 before dropping a four-set match at Pepperdine. UCLA was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Volleyball Preseason Poll. Additionally, four Bruins earned spots on the 20-member Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team, tying Nebraska for the most selections in the league. Outside hitters Cheridyn Leverette and Maggie Li joined middle blockers Marianna Singletary and Phekran Kong in receiving preseason honors.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
• Sarah Sylvester is five blocks shy of passing Mattie Burleson (340, 2011-14) for sixth in the TCU all-time blocks list.
LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
• TCU opened its 2025 season at the State Farm College Volleyball Showdown in Pittsburg against two Final Four teams from a year ago.
• The Frogs showed flashes against No. 3 Pitt, winning the second set, but ultimately fell 1-3 in the match.
• The following day, TCU bounced back, winning an emotional five-set battle over the defending national champions, No. 5 Penn State.
DON'T CALL IT AN UPSET
• Playing in front of over 5,000 fans, No. 24 TCU overcame adversity to win an emotional five-set battle over the defending national champions, No. 5 Penn State.
• The Horned Frogs were firing on all cylinders, taking the first two sets in dominant fashion. Just as they were looking to make a statement and sweep the Nittany Lions, senior captain Jalyn Gibson went down with an injury and was helped off the court.
• Penn State was able to find its footing and even the match, forcing a fifth set, but TCU rallied behind Gibson and gritted out the victory.
• It marks the second-highest ranked win in school history and first over a top-5 team since 2015 (vs. No. 2 Texas).
• It is also the best win of the Jason Williams Era at TCU, as the Frogs' head coach picked up his first career win over a top-5 opponent.
• TCU held Penn State to its lowest hitting percentage as a team since Nov. 9, 2024, when the Nittany Lions hit .000 at Wisconsin.
SERVING IT UP
• One of the keys to TCU's opening weekend success was its presence at the service line.
• The Frogs recorded 19 aces over the two matches, including 11 against No. 5 Penn State.
• TCU's 2.11 aces per set rank 43rd nationally and fourth in the Big 12.
FRESH FACES
• Four Horned Frogs made their TCU debuts over the weekend.
• Lauren Murphy started and finished with 10 kills on 14 swings for a career-high .571 clip in her first match in purple.
• Setters Ella Foti and Rosemary Archer split time guiding the offense with a combined 10.11 assists per set.
• True freshman Samara Coleman made her collegiate debut against No. 3 Pitt and tallied her first kill and ace in the win over No. 5 Penn State.
• Assistant coach Keith Smith also made his debut, working with the setters and offense.
HOME SWEET HOME
• TCU went 14-1 at home in Schollmaier Arena last year, tied for the most wins at home in program history in a single season.
• The lone loss came at the hands of No. 14 Arizona State (9/25/24).
• TCU has won eight straight matches on its home court dating back to last season.
• Jason Williams is 31-12 at home during his tenure as a head coach.
For all the latest TCU volleyball news, follow the Frogs on X at @TCUVolleyball, on Instagram at @tcuvolleyball and on Facebook at TCU Volleyball.
TCU NOTABLES
• TCU is coming off its best win of the Jason Williams Era. The Horned Frogs defeated the defending national champions, No. 5 Penn State, in an emotional five-set thriller on Monday at the State Farm Volleyball Showcase.
• After beginning the season ranked for the first time in program history, TCU moved up to No. 24 in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Frogs are in the midst of a stretch of five straight matches against ranked opponents to open the season, including three in the top 10.
• TCU hosts No. 19 UCLA for the second straight season. The Frogs won last year's matchup in Fort Worth, 3-1.
• The Frogs were lights out at the service line in week one, tallying 19 aces. They rank 43rd nationally with 2.11 per set.
• Senior Jalyn Gibson was voted to the Preseason All-Big 12 team by the league's head coaches.
• TCU returns five starters and 10 letterwinners from a season ago, including its stat leader in blocks (Sarah Sylvester, 146) and digs (Gibson, 330). The Frogs also welcomed eight newcomers (four freshmen and four transfers).
• Heading into the 2025 season, TCU was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 Conference, receiving one first place vote.
SCOUTING REPORT
Coming into the weekend ranked No. 19, UCLA boasts a 1-1 record. The Bruins opened their 2025 season on the road at Long Beach, winning 3-2 before dropping a four-set match at Pepperdine. UCLA was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Volleyball Preseason Poll. Additionally, four Bruins earned spots on the 20-member Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team, tying Nebraska for the most selections in the league. Outside hitters Cheridyn Leverette and Maggie Li joined middle blockers Marianna Singletary and Phekran Kong in receiving preseason honors.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
• Sarah Sylvester is five blocks shy of passing Mattie Burleson (340, 2011-14) for sixth in the TCU all-time blocks list.
LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
• TCU opened its 2025 season at the State Farm College Volleyball Showdown in Pittsburg against two Final Four teams from a year ago.
• The Frogs showed flashes against No. 3 Pitt, winning the second set, but ultimately fell 1-3 in the match.
• The following day, TCU bounced back, winning an emotional five-set battle over the defending national champions, No. 5 Penn State.
DON'T CALL IT AN UPSET
• Playing in front of over 5,000 fans, No. 24 TCU overcame adversity to win an emotional five-set battle over the defending national champions, No. 5 Penn State.
• The Horned Frogs were firing on all cylinders, taking the first two sets in dominant fashion. Just as they were looking to make a statement and sweep the Nittany Lions, senior captain Jalyn Gibson went down with an injury and was helped off the court.
• Penn State was able to find its footing and even the match, forcing a fifth set, but TCU rallied behind Gibson and gritted out the victory.
• It marks the second-highest ranked win in school history and first over a top-5 team since 2015 (vs. No. 2 Texas).
• It is also the best win of the Jason Williams Era at TCU, as the Frogs' head coach picked up his first career win over a top-5 opponent.
• TCU held Penn State to its lowest hitting percentage as a team since Nov. 9, 2024, when the Nittany Lions hit .000 at Wisconsin.
SERVING IT UP
• One of the keys to TCU's opening weekend success was its presence at the service line.
• The Frogs recorded 19 aces over the two matches, including 11 against No. 5 Penn State.
• TCU's 2.11 aces per set rank 43rd nationally and fourth in the Big 12.
FRESH FACES
• Four Horned Frogs made their TCU debuts over the weekend.
• Lauren Murphy started and finished with 10 kills on 14 swings for a career-high .571 clip in her first match in purple.
• Setters Ella Foti and Rosemary Archer split time guiding the offense with a combined 10.11 assists per set.
• True freshman Samara Coleman made her collegiate debut against No. 3 Pitt and tallied her first kill and ace in the win over No. 5 Penn State.
• Assistant coach Keith Smith also made his debut, working with the setters and offense.
HOME SWEET HOME
• TCU went 14-1 at home in Schollmaier Arena last year, tied for the most wins at home in program history in a single season.
• The lone loss came at the hands of No. 14 Arizona State (9/25/24).
• TCU has won eight straight matches on its home court dating back to last season.
• Jason Williams is 31-12 at home during his tenure as a head coach.
For all the latest TCU volleyball news, follow the Frogs on X at @TCUVolleyball, on Instagram at @tcuvolleyball and on Facebook at TCU Volleyball.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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