Saturday, April 15
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
10:15 AM
USC
3
vs
2
Long Beach State
Photo by: John McGillen
No. 2 USC Beach Volleyball Wins Pool on 3-2 Decision Over No. 11 Long Beach State
April 15, 2023 | Women's Beach Volleyball
The Women of Troy extend the win streak to 14 duals and will play for first place in the Center of Effort Challenge
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The No. 2-ranked USC beach volleyball team (24-1) defeated No. 11 Long Beach State (19-14) by a 3-2 count to win its pool at the Center of Effort Challenge at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 15.
The victory is USC's 14th in a row, which now ranks alone for fifth-longest in school history. The Women of Troy have also won 14 straight over LBSU and improve to 15-5 all-time against the Beach. The Trojans go to 11-0 in duals played in San Luis Obispo.
Long Beach State scored the first dual point of the day with a win at the No. 5 position where Emily Mattoon and Mari Molina defeated senior Harper Hallgrenand freshman Klaire VanDeusen, 21-15, 21-6.
The Trojans pulled even on a win at the top spot where juniors Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple took down Sydney Stevens and Julia Westby, 21-14, 21-10, for their eighth win in a row, and to improve to 18-1 on the season.
USC went in front moments later with a win at the No. 3 position when graduate Madison Shields and freshman Madison White upended Christine DeRoos and Megan Widener, 21-9, 21-19, for their 14th win a row. Shields-White is now 18-5 on the season.
The clinching point came from the No. 4 position when junior Olivia Bakos and freshman Gabby Walker went 21-19, 21-17 for a win over Natalie Glenn and Maggie Walters to improve to 10-3 on the season.
In the only match to go three sets, Long Beach State earned the last point of the dual to make the final score, 3-2. There, Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah defeated the Trojans' twin senior pair of Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse, 25-23, 20-22, 15-11, to end the duos' 12-match win streak.
USC's three wins earns the Trojans a berth into the first-place dual set for 5:45 p.m. PT. The Women of Troy will face crosstown rival UCLA (29-2), which won its pool with victories over Cal Poly, Pepperdine, and TCU.
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. 2 USC def. No. 11 Long Beach State, 3-2
Center of Effort Challenge
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex · San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Saturday, April 15, 2023
RECORDS: USC (24-1), Long Beach State (19-14)
1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Sydney STEVENS/Julia WESTBY (LBSU); 21-14, 21-10
2. Malia GEMENTERA/Taylor HAGENAH (LBSU) def. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC); 25-23, 20-22, 15-11
3. Madison SHIELDS/Madison WHITE (USC) def. Christine DeROOS/Megan WIDENER (LBSU); 21-9, 21-19
4. Olivia BAKOS/Gabby WALKER (USC) def. Natalie GLENN/Maggie WALTERS (LBSU); 21-19, 21-17
5. Emily MATTOON/Mari MOLINA (LBSU) def. Harper HALLGREN/Klaire VanDEUSEN (USC); 21-15, 21-6
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3, 4*, 2
The victory is USC's 14th in a row, which now ranks alone for fifth-longest in school history. The Women of Troy have also won 14 straight over LBSU and improve to 15-5 all-time against the Beach. The Trojans go to 11-0 in duals played in San Luis Obispo.
Long Beach State scored the first dual point of the day with a win at the No. 5 position where Emily Mattoon and Mari Molina defeated senior Harper Hallgrenand freshman Klaire VanDeusen, 21-15, 21-6.
The Trojans pulled even on a win at the top spot where juniors Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple took down Sydney Stevens and Julia Westby, 21-14, 21-10, for their eighth win in a row, and to improve to 18-1 on the season.
USC went in front moments later with a win at the No. 3 position when graduate Madison Shields and freshman Madison White upended Christine DeRoos and Megan Widener, 21-9, 21-19, for their 14th win a row. Shields-White is now 18-5 on the season.
The clinching point came from the No. 4 position when junior Olivia Bakos and freshman Gabby Walker went 21-19, 21-17 for a win over Natalie Glenn and Maggie Walters to improve to 10-3 on the season.
In the only match to go three sets, Long Beach State earned the last point of the dual to make the final score, 3-2. There, Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah defeated the Trojans' twin senior pair of Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse, 25-23, 20-22, 15-11, to end the duos' 12-match win streak.
USC's three wins earns the Trojans a berth into the first-place dual set for 5:45 p.m. PT. The Women of Troy will face crosstown rival UCLA (29-2), which won its pool with victories over Cal Poly, Pepperdine, and TCU.
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. 2 USC def. No. 11 Long Beach State, 3-2
Center of Effort Challenge
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex · San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Saturday, April 15, 2023
RECORDS: USC (24-1), Long Beach State (19-14)
1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Sydney STEVENS/Julia WESTBY (LBSU); 21-14, 21-10
2. Malia GEMENTERA/Taylor HAGENAH (LBSU) def. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC); 25-23, 20-22, 15-11
3. Madison SHIELDS/Madison WHITE (USC) def. Christine DeROOS/Megan WIDENER (LBSU); 21-9, 21-19
4. Olivia BAKOS/Gabby WALKER (USC) def. Natalie GLENN/Maggie WALTERS (LBSU); 21-19, 21-17
5. Emily MATTOON/Mari MOLINA (LBSU) def. Harper HALLGREN/Klaire VanDEUSEN (USC); 21-15, 21-6
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3, 4*, 2