Luke Braswell and Aidan Albrecht of Penn State strain to reach the spike.
For a photographer, the AVCA showcase was an extraordinary opportunity, not only because the event featured four of the top 15 men’s college volleyball teams (No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Ohio State, then-No. 9 Penn State and No. 13 USC), but also because it was held at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, which has state-of-the-art lighting.
Even better, the matches were played Thursday evening and early afternoon Saturday. So there were only a handful of photographers (good) but only a couple of thousand fans (bad).
With plenty of photo-taking positions available, and not having to fight for positions as we do at the NCAA championships, which will also be Pauley in May, Ed Chan made the most of the opportunity and offers his 25 favorite photos from the event.
If you missed our previous coverage, read about Thursday’s matches here and Saturday’s here.
USC’s Connor Inlow launches a jump serve.
Cole Paxson runs down a tip as Chris Hall and Gianluca Grasso look on.
Aaron Samarin dives for a deflected spike.
Jake Hanes plays great defense for an opposite.
OSU’s Sanil Thomas reaches for a tight pass
Aidan Albrecht takes advantage of the one-on-one opportunity.
UCLA’S Micah Ma’a dumps.
Micah Ma’a executes a one-handed back set, creating an open net for Christian Hessenauer.
Royce Clemens digs
UCLA’s Oliver Martin jousts with Penn State’s Luke Braswell and Jalen Penrose (far right).
PSU’s Matthew McLaren scrambles for the ball as Royce Clemens recovers.
The Bruins’ Garland Peed extends for a serve.
Declan Pierce of Penn State flinches after UCLA’s Daenan Gyimah buries a ball straight down in front of him.
UCLA’s bench prepares for what they believe will be an ace from Daenan Gyimah.
Chris Hall is forced to set with one hand on the tight pass.
The Nittany Lions’ Luke Braswell lunges for a dig.
Kevin Gear of Penn State hits the overpass off the head of USC setter Chris Hall.
JT Hatch passes
UCLA jousts with Ohio State (from left, Micah Ma’a, Daenan Gyimah, Reese Devilbiss, Blake Leeson).
JT Hatch faces an imposing Ohio State block of Reese Devilbiss, Blake Leeson, and Jake Hanes.
Micah Ma’a dishes a back set.
Garland Peed of UCLA passes a tough jump serve.
Dylan Missry reaches for a pass.
Christian Hessenauer of UCLA gets a hand on an Ohio State spike.
