UCLA adds All-MIVA libero for 2023 season

Photo courtesy of Purdue Fort Wayne athletics

An all-conference libero will be added to UCLA roster.

UCLA announced recently that Troy Gooch transferred from Purdue Fort Wayne and will join the Bruins for the upcoming season.

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Gooch finished last season in the nation’s top 10 with a 2.37 digs per game average and had a 96.7 percent successful service reception rate as he earned First-Team All-MIVA honors. The libero also had double-digit digs in four of the team’s final five matches to help the Mastodons reach the MIVA Tournament finals for the first time in more than a decade.

Gooch compiled 530 career digs in four seasons with Purdue Fort Wayne and ended each of the last two seasons in the nation’s top 10 averaging more than 2.00 digs per game.

The Bruins return a majority of its starters after winning the 2022 MPSF regular season championship and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. In addition, UCLA defeated Pepperdine in the opening round and advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals.