GAME NOTES

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Belmont Abbey returns to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year -- and third time in school history -- when it faces two-time defending champion UCLA in the quarterfinals.

The Crusaders (17-8) captured their third Conference Carolinas championship on April 26, defeating top-seeded Mount Olive 3-0 in the final. Belmont Abbey has won seven straight -- and 10 of the last 12 -- matches entering the tournament.

UCLA (20-6) earned an at-large bid after winning the regular-season title in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

Other storylines for tonight's game:

• The Belmont Abbey men's volleyball program is in its 13 year of competition, all at the Division I-II level.
• The Crusaders finished second in the Conference Carolinas standings, earning the No. 2 seed. The championship match win avenged a pair of 3-0 sweeps by the Trojans during the regular season.
• Zach Puentes was named AVCA Honorable Mention All-America on Monday, the second Crusader ever selected. He was a first-team All-Conference Carolinas selection and Tournament MVP.