Saturday, April 15
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
5:45 PM
USC
2
vs
3
UCLA
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
Photo by: John McGillen
No. 2 USC Beach Volleyball Edged by No. 3 UCLA in Center of Effort Final
April 15, 2023 | Women's Beach Volleyball
The Trojans had a 14-dual win streak snapped in a narrow loss to the third-ranked Bruins
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The No. 2-ranked USC beach volleyball team (24-2) fell, 3-2, to crosstown rival No. 3-ranked UCLA (30-2) in the Center of Effort Challenge first-place final at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 15.
The loss snaps USC's 14-dual win streak, which ends as the fifth-longest in school history. The Trojans also had a six-match win streak over the Bruins stopped and fall to 22-15 in the all-time series. USC goes to 11-1 in duals played in San Luis Obispo.
The Trojans scored first with a win at the top court when juniors Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple collected their ninth straight win to improve to 19-1 on the season on a 22-20, 21-11 win over Peri Brennan and Abby Van Winkle.
UCLA evened the dual score with a win at the No. 4 position where Marlie Monserez and Jessie Smith defeated junior Olivia Bakos and freshman Gabby Whitein straight sets, 21-18, 24-22.
The Bruins went in front once again with a win at court two where Maggie Boyd and Lexy Denaberg defeated USC's twin seniors Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse, 22-20, 21-16. Moments later, the Trojans equalized again with a win by the three pair of graduate Madison Shields and freshman Madison White. The duo won its 15th straight match to improve to 20-5 on the season. Shields-White is the first USC pair to reach the 20-win mark this season.
In the only three-set match of the day, freshman Bailey Showalter and graduate Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope dropped a 21-12 first set to Devon Newberry and Jaden Whitmarsh but recovered to force set three with a 21-17 win in the second. UCLA's duo had the upper hand in the third frame to take a 15-10 win and close the books on the dual.
The Trojans return to Merle Norman Stadium to host CSU Bakersfield on Tuesday (April 18) for a noon PT dual as they celebrate Senior Day on home sand. Graduates Jenna Johnson, Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope, and Madison Shields, senior Harper Hallgren, and junior Caitlin Cummings will each be honored in post-match ceremonies.
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCBeach.
No. 3 UCLA def. No. 2 USC, 3-2
Center of Effort Challenge
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex · San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Saturday, April 15, 2023
RECORDS: USC (24-2), UCLA (30-2)
1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Peri BRENNAN/Abby VAN WINKLE (UCLA); 22-20, 21-11
2. Maggie BOYD/Lexy DENABERG (UCLA) def. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC); 22-20, 21-16
3. Madison SHIELDS/Madison WHITE (USC) def. Haley HALLGREN/Rileigh POWERS (UCLA); 23-21, 21-19
4. Marlie MONSEREZ/Jessie SMITH (UCLA) def. Olivia BAKOS/Gabby WALKER (USC); 21-18, 24-22
5. Devon NEWBERRY/Jaden WHITMARSH (UCLA) def. Bailey SHOWALTER/Ashlyn RASNICK-POPE (USC); 21-12, 17-21, 15-10
Order of finish: 1, 4, 2, 3, 5*
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