SV graduate McDonough part of 2nd successive NCAA men’s volleyball championship with UCLA
LOS ANGELES — While a senior at Seneca Valley, Cole McDonough helped the Raiders’ boys volleyball team finish as PIAA Class 3A runner-up.
He’s more than trumped that in college.
McDonough, a sophomore political science major at UCLA, recently helped the Bruins claim their second successive NCAA men’s volleyball championship with a 3-1 win at Long Beach State. UCLA’s victory snapped a 27-match home court win streak by Long Beach.
UCLA was the top seed in the tournament while Long Beach State was the No. 2 seed.
“They move the tournament around each year and Long Beach happened to be the host school in a year they were really good,” McDonough said. “Their place holds 5,000 people and it was pretty packed.
“We knew what we had to do and went in there and did it.”
The Bruins won the title match by scores of 25-21, 25-20, 27-29, 25-21.
Ohio State hosts next year’s NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championships. UCLA hosts the event in 2026, McDonough’s senior year.
McDonough was the 2022 WPIAL boys volleyball MVP with Seneca Valley. He was an all-state performer as well. Yet at UCLA, the 5-foot-11 sophomore was in a role as serving specialist with occasional time at libero this year.
“I saw I had to be selfless here and do what’s best for the team,” McDonough said. “That’s the talent and culture we have at UCLA. Everybody on this team has to be selfless. We have so many people who could be All-Americans on other teams. That’s the depth of talent we have.
“It’s nice to see that overall selfless attitude pay off with a championship.”
Seneca Valley coach Brett Poirier recalled McDonough hanging around the gym as a youngster. His older sister, Madison, played girls volleyball for the Raiders.
“You could just tell he was gong to be a special player,” Poirier said. “He’s been a great team guy since going out to UCLA. Hopefully, he’ll get a lot more playing time as a junior and senior.”
UCLA finished 26-5 this season, one of the losses being a regular season defeat at Long Beach State. McDonough had a season-best five digs in matches against USC and Fort Valley State.
The Bruins won back-to-back NCAA men’s volleyball championships for the first time since 1995-96. The program has won 21 NCAA titles.
“That’s one of the reasons I came out here, to be part of something special,” McDonough said. “I’ve been far away from family, but they were able to come out for the championship match and that meant a lot. Whenever we play at Ohio State or Penn Syaste, somewhere nearby, they’re always there.
“We only lost a couple of seniors from last year’s team. This year, we’re losing four or five starters, including our libero. What that means for me, we’ll see. I’m just here to help the team win.That’s all.”
McDonough added that UCLA plays in front of thousands of people pretty much every match, home and away.
“That was an adjustment for me at first,” he admitted. “Last year, my firrst appearance was at Hawaii in front of 13,000. I learned really quick.”
By the time McDionough was a senior at Seneca Valley, Poirier said he could do it all.
“I’m talking every position, from front row to libero to setter, whatever,” the Raiders coach said. “It didn’t matter where I put him. He was an incredibly versatile player and I’m sure he’s still that way.”
McDonough remains grateful to his family for taking the time to drive him to Columbus, Ohio, for club volleyball when he was in school.
“They were instrumental in my development as a player,” he said. “I will never forget that.”
