UCLA players raised the NCAA championship trophy to each corner of the Walter Pyramid. Swaths of blue-and-gold clad fans still remained. They chanted.
“Back-to-back! Back-to-back!”
Top-seeded UCLA defended its national championship with a four-set win over No. 2 Long Beach State on Saturday. The Bruins won their 21st NCAA title in program history and completed their first repeat bid since 1996.
UCLA handed Long Beach State its first loss in the Pyramid this season, winning 25-21, 25-20, 29-27, 25-21. The Beach was 19-0 at home this season.
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Senior Ethan Champlin was named the tournament’s most outstanding player after leading the Bruins with 15 kills and six blocks in the championship match.