USC Beach Volleyball Rides Waves Out for 3-2 Victory

Saturday, May 5

Gulf Shores, Ala.

11:00 AM

USC

Pepperdine vs. USC

Photo by: Trevor Will / Pac-12

USC Beach Volleyball Rides Waves Out for 3-2 Victory

May 05, 2018 | Women's Beach Volleyball, Features

NCAA Bracket Watch Live

The Women of Troy survived a second elimination match to advance to today’s 4 p.m. match

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 5-seed USC beach volleyball team (27-13) earned a second 3-2 win in the elimination bracket of the 2018 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship on Saturday, May 5. This time, the Women of Troy defeated second-seeded rival Pepperdine (25-5) to advance to today's 4 p.m. CT match where they will face either top-seeded UCLA or No. 7 Louisiana State.

The Trojans had lost all four meetings against the Waves this season; three times by 3-2 scores. The win snapped the four-match skid and eliminated Pepperdine from the tournament. The loss also signals the final match in the legendary career of Waves head coach Nina Mathies who guided Pepperdine to two AVCA titles (2012 and 2014). Mathies announced her retirement earlier this season and steps down as one of the winningest coaches in the history of the sport.

It was a back-and-forth battle to reach the three-set decision that won the dual for the Women of Troy. USC fired the first shot and scored from the top court as junior Abril Bustamante and freshman Tina Graudina completed a 21-11, 21-18 win over Deahna Kraft and Corinne Quiggle. The Waves had a response and evened the dual at one apiece when Heidi Dyer and Gigi Hernandez defeated sophomores Joy Dennis and Cammie Dorn, 21-18, 21-14, at the No. 3 position.

Moments later, the Trojans went in front once more when senior Jenna Belton and freshman Maja Kaiser took down Maddie Dilfer and Nikki Lyons at the fifth court, 21-18, 21-16. The Waves were ready and squared the match with a win at court two when Brooke Bauer and Madalyn Roh earned a 23-21, 21-16 win over senior Terese Cannon and freshman Sammy Slater.

With all eyes on court four, freshman Haley Hallgren and senior Alexandra Poletto moved into a third set with Skylar Caputo and Alexis Filippone after splitting the first two, 21-18 and 16-21. In the third frame, with the score tied at five-all on the second switch, the Women of Troy made a run and claimed a 9-6 lead at the next flip. The Waves trimmed the lead to one at 13-12, but Poletto scored the final point with a big block at the net and sewed up the 3-2 win for the Trojans.

For more information on the three-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, Instagram, and Snapchat.

[5] No. 5 USC def. [2] No. 2 Pepperdine, 3-2
2018 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship • Elimination Match
Gulf Place • Gulf Shores, Ala.
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Records: USC (27-13), Pepperdine (25-5)
1. Abril Bustamante/Tina Graudina (USC) def. Deahna Kraft/Corinne Quiggle (PEPP); 21-11, 21-18
2. Brooke Bauer/Madalyn Roh (PEPP) def. Terese Cannon/Sammy Slater (USC); 23-21, 21-16
3. Heidi Dyer/Gigi Hernandez (PEPP) def. Joy Dennis/Cammie Dorn (USC); 21-18, 21-14
4. Haley Hallgren/Alexandra Poletto (USC) def. Skylar Caputo/Alexis Filippone (PEPP); 21-18, 16-21, 15-12
5. Jenna Belton/Maja Kaiser (USC) def. Maddie Dilfer/Nikki Lyons (PEPP); 21-18, 21-16
Order of finish: 1, 3, 5, 2, 4*