USC
Long Beach State
No. 3 USC Takes Down No. 6 Long Beach State
March 22, 2016 | Women's Beach Volleyball
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March 22, 2016
LOS ANGELES -- The No. 3-ranked USC beach volleyball team (10-2) defeated No. 6 Long Beach State (2-6) by a 4-1 count on Tuesday, March 22, at Merle Norman Stadium. It was the sixth straight victory for the Women of Troy.
USC got its first point from court five where sophomore Jo Kremer and senior Zoe Nightingale knocked off Megan Kruidhof and Morea Wagner, 21-6, 21-17. At court four, sophomore Jenna Belton and freshman Abril Bustamante came through with a 21-11, 21-19 win over Ciana Wagner and Mykah Wilson to put the Trojans on top, 2-0.
The clinching point came from the top court where juniors Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes defeated Jenelle Hudson and Zoi Konstantopoulou, 21-9, 21-4, for their 15th win of the season and their 40th straight. At court two, Long Beach State scored its only point of the dual when Nele Barber and Rachel Nieto earned a 21-16, 16-21, 16-14 three-set win. Down three points in the third frame, junior Sophie Bukovec and senior Alexa Strange fought back for the 14-all tie, but couldn't complete the comeback.
In their eighth three-set match of the year, juniors Nicolette Martin and Allie Wheeler stood fast to hold off Kobi Pekich and Sammee Thomas for a 21-16, 19-21, 15-13 win and put up the fourth and final point for the Trojans. USC will now face California (7-4) in the second of back-to-back duals.
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope, and Snapchat.
No. 3 USC 4, No. 6 Long Beach State 1
Merle Norman Stadium • Los Angeles, Calif.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Records: USC (10-2), Long Beach State (2-6)
1. Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Jenelle Hudson/Zoi Konstantopoulou (LBSU); 21-9, 21-4
2. Nele Barber/Rachel Nieto (LBSU) def. Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC); 21-16, 16-21, 16-14
3. Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Kobi Pekich/Sammee Thomas (LBSU); 21-16, 19-21, 15-13
4. Jenna Belton/Abril Bustamante (USC) def. Ciana Wagner/Mykah Wilson (LBSU); 21-11, 21-19
5. Jo Kremer/Zoe Nightingale (USC) def. Megan Kruidhof/Morea Wagner (LBSU); 21-6, 21-17
Order of finish: 5, 4, 1*, 2, 3
