Fab Five: Matt Palma

Photographs have the ability to capture important pieces of our past and help us recall people, places, feelings, and memories that made an impact on our lives. For many scholar-athletes, pictures secure those special moments and assist in making their collegiate careers last forever.

In a feature called “Fab Five”, Triton scholar-athletes are tasked to pick five of their favorite photos from their career to be highlighted on UCSDtritons.com. 

Today, Matt Palma (#4) from the nationally-ranked men's volleyball team shares his collection.

The Tritons' starting libero for the last two seasons, Palma has been involved in some of the biggest moments in UC San Diego Volleyball history.

In 2022, Palma's senior year, he was an All-Big West First Team selection after amassing 225 digs, the sixth-most in a single season by any Triton.

From Costa Mesa, Calif., Palma recently graduated with a degree in economics. He will be pursuing a master's this coming fall at UC San Diego's Rady School of Management.

1. Program Changer

This was our program's first major win. We played against #3 UCLA and swept them in three sets in front of the largest crowd RIMAC Arena has seen. It was my sophomore year and one of the coolest atmospheres I have ever been a part of. This was the match that really kickstarted the change for this program and made us believers. 

2. Getting the Start

This panorama was against Hawaii my junior year, and it was my first career start. No better team to go up against in your first start than the #1 Rainbow Warriors. This match changed my life because it made me realize that I can play with the best of the best and do better than just hold my own.

3. Big Big West Upset

I think this picture, or at least some variation, will be remembered forever in UC San Diego volleyball history. Nobody gave us a chance, except ourselves, and we came out and upset undefeated and top-ranked Hawaii in the semifinals of the 2021 Big West Conference Championships on their home court. This photo captures all the emotions and I couldn't be any more proud to be a part of this team that made program history multiple times throughout that playoff run.

4. Team USA

This photo will always be a favorite of mine when I look back on my college volleyball days. To be able to represent your country at the highest level is incredible, and to do it with your teammate (Kyle McCauley) since high school is even better. We both were basically un-recruited out of the same high school and three years later we are making contributions for Team USA. It continues to be a source of motivation for me outside of volleyball and especially a reminder to never give in to the doubt. 

5. I Wouldn't Change Anything

This photo is a favorite of mine because it signifies a culmination of all the hard work over the four years with this group. Individually, it reminds me that in my send-off year I was one of the top defensive liberos in the country, I was the first "All-Conference First Team" libero the program has ever had, and I put myself into the UC San Diego record books. Collectively, every single guy in this picture made a mark on UC San Diego volleyball and paved the way for the future. We had upsets against both the national champion (Hawaii) and the national runner-up (Long Beach State), and beat BYU for the first AND second times in who knows how many years. While the tournament didn't go as we would have liked, I wouldn't change anything these past four years and I am so proud of everything this group accomplished.

Check back on UCSDTritons.com all summer for future editions of “Fab Five” from other UC San Diego scholar-athletes. Previous “Fab Five” entries are below.

2022
• Nick Cirrito (Men's Soccer)

2020
• Sergi Mata (Men's Golf)
• Gabe Hadley (Men's Basketball)
• Jonathan Sabouri (Men's Soccer)
• Grace Murphy (Swimming & Diving)
• Collin Shannon (Men's Volleyball)
• Cindy Tran (Women's Volleyball)
• Jake Selstad (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
• Calder Hilde-Jones (Men's Water Polo)
• Anu Bhadada (Women's Tennis)
• Natalie Widmer (Women's Soccer)
• Konami Masui (Women's Fencing)
• Sarah Proctor (Women's Rowing)
• Neil Tengbumroong (Men's Tennis)
• Cameron Leonard (Baseball)
• Isabel Lavrov (Softball)
• Zeinab Torabi (Women's Track & Field)

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.