After starting the 2026 campaign undefeated through 20 games, UCLA men’s volleyball seemed poised to breeze through the postseason and capture its third national championship in four years. Yet the squad fell short, seeing its stellar run come to an end after suffering a five-set loss to UC Irvine in the NCAA regional final May 2. Now, after the departure of several elite pieces, coach John Hawks has brought in a trio of transfers who will hope to avenge last season’s premature exit. Assistant Sports editor Steven Chaparyan breaks down what the incoming transfer room brings to the table for the retooled Bruin squad.
Josh Ewert
Former School: UC San Diego
The departure of outside hitter Zach Rama, who tallied 386 kills on a .323 clip alongside 45 assists in 2026, left one of UCLA’s biggest gaps heading into the upcoming season.
Stepping in to fulfill some of the pin-hitting duties is former Triton senior Josh Ewert, who brings explosiveness and versatility to the outside hitter position.
Ewert had a breakout year in 2026 after seeing very limited action across his prior three seasons. The Moraga, California, local tallied 186 kills on a .253 clip, adding 13 assists and 79 digs. Additionally, his 0.34 service aces per set were good for ninth in the Big West.
The then-redshirt-junior was the only player to appear in all 27 matches for UCSD last season, starting 16 of those outings. He earned UCU Athlete of the Week honors Jan. 12 after leading the Tritons to a strong opening week, recording 34 kills, 11 digs and six aces across 10 sets to help the squad come out to an early 3-0 start.
What stands out about Ewert’s style of play is his ability to effectively man different areas of the court. With outside hitters typically playing on the left side, Ewert frequently shifted over to support the attack on the right as a de facto opposite. He was also often used in back-row attack schemes, harnessing his hitting power to send the ball straight down the middle.
https://ucsdtritons.com/watch/?Archive=2152&type=Live
[00:27-44]
In the above clip from a matchup between UCLA and UCSD on Jan. 23, Ewert first receives a misdirection pass from setter Cameron Wurl and comes flying from the back row for a kill. A pair of Bruin blockers rose to contest the attack at the net, but they were no match.
UCLA will be able to bolster its bic opportunities with Ewert on the floor, speeding up its offensive approach and leaving opposing middle blockers guessing as to where the swing will come from.
In the second play of the clip, Ewert receives a more typical pass to the left side and quickly hammers the ball downward along the out-of-bounds line, narrowly avoiding the outstretched fingertips of then-redshirt-junior opposite David Decker.
Ewert’s athleticism and ability to convert off different types of passes will allow him to be a versatile asset for the Bruins on the offensive end of the net next season.
While it remains unclear who the starting setter will be for the blue and gold in the coming campaign, Ewert’s attacking prowess will help build the chemistry needed to facilitate numerous attacking chances.
Gavin Chambers
Former School: BYU
Just as Rama will be missed at outside hitter, Cameron Thorne will be missed at middle blocker.
Thorne stood just 6-foot-4 – relatively short given that middle blockers are usually the tallest players on the team – and was a high-flyer, posting a conference-best .509 hitting percentage and recording five or more total blocks in nine matches throughout the year.
Manning the middle next season will be former Cougar junior Gavin Chambers, who tallied 102 total blocks across the 2026 campaign – good for first on the team and second in the MPSF. The Corona, California, local added 108 kills on a .418 clip alongside 24 digs and nine service aces.
Chambers’ defense was imperative for a BYU squad that posted 17 sweeps last season, including a nine-game stretch during which the team did not drop a single set. And that defensive skill set will be crucial for a Bruin squad that sometimes faltered at countering opposing scoring runs last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUObpO8r-Rg
[1:41-2:19]
In this clip, Chambers showcases both his attacking and blocking abilities. First, he makes his way to the middle of the floor for an attack off the pass, sending the ball to the back row before it is dug by UC Irvine.
The Bruins already boast elite returning attackers next season – including junior outside hitter and 2026 AVCA First Team All-American Sean Kelly – and Chambers can help reduce the pressure for Kelly and other teammates to carry all of the offensive weight.
As the rally continues in the clip above, Anteater middle blocker Micah Goss rises for the kill, only to be met at the apex of his jump and immediately blocked by Chambers. Standing at 6-foot-9, Chambers brings height to the middle blocker position after Thorne stood five inches shorter last season.
Chambers’ 13 solo blocks led the Cougars last season and placed behind only USC middle blocker Wesley Smith’s 22 across the conference. Chambers will be a vital addition to the defensive end of the net for Hawks, whether rising to block with teammates or taking on opposing attackers by himself.
Thatcher Fahlbusch
Former School: Hawaiʻi
The final transfer has the potential to bolster the Bruins’ team chemistry.
Former Rainbow Warrior outside hitter sophomore Thatcher Fahlbusch will join the Bruins and reunite with sophomore opposite Grayson Bradford, his former teammate at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach.
In 2025, the pair of then-high school seniors led the Mustangs to a 20-0 home record and to the CIF Division I state championship. Bradford was named the AVCA Boys High School Player of the Year, while Fahlbusch earned AVCA Second Team All-American honors.
Now, the duo will look to replicate their success in Westwood.
Fahlbusch held a limited role with the Rainbow Warriors last season, seeing action in just three matches. In his first collegiate start against Roberts Wesleyan on Jan. 14, the Manhattan Beach, California, local finished the match with six kills, two digs and one ace. Through the season, Fahlbusch recorded a total of 13 kills on a .290 clip alongside one assist.
With the Bruins losing a few veteran pieces this offseason, Fahlbusch has a realistic opportunity to step up as a top offensive weapon and have a breakout year in blue and gold.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g17geUcewA
[29:48-30:26]
In the clip above, Fahlbusch demonstrates his ability to instantaneously react to blockers’ positioning to aim his attacks.
After receiving a cross-court pass from his teammate, Fahlbusch rises for the attack and is met by the outstretched arms of two Redhawk defenders on the other end of the net. He immediately adjusts the angle of his attack, curving the ball right past the pair of blockers and sending it straight toward an off-balance opposing player expecting the block.
While Fahlbusch still lacks extensive collegiate experience, he has the offensive IQ and versatility to serve as a useful rotational piece on Hawks’ squad. Paired alongside Bradford, who will likely be equipped on the right side, the two now have the chance to revitalize their connection on the court.
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