LONG BEACH, California — In the end, No. 1 will play No. 2.
But what rocky, obstacle-strewn paths UCLA and Long Beach State took to survive and advance to get to Saturday’s title match of the NCAA’s National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship.
Top-seeded UCLA, the defending national champion, opened play Thursday at Long Beach State’s Pyramid with a 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 18-25,15-12 victory over fourth-seeded UC Irvine.