UCLA
UCLA at Pepperdine
No. 1 UCLA Solves Zuma Beach Riddle
March 06, 2019 | Beach Volleyball
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MALIBU, Calif.ย -- No. 1 UCLA entered Wednesday's contest having never tasted victory at Zumaย Beach, falling atย Pepperdineย twice in its history. But on a rainy day in Malibu, Calif., the Bruins pulled off two feats never before accomplished, a win at Pepperdineย with a 5-0 sweep without dropping a set, marking the first time in Pepperdine'sย storied history that the Waves had ever been sweptย 5-0 (had previously been defeated 3-0 in NCAA Championship play). With the win, the Bruins improved to 10-0 on the year with their second win over the Waves in 2019 and their eighth sweep of the season. The Waves dropped to 6-2 on the year withย both losses coming at the hands ofย the Bruins.
Theย relatively new pairing of sophomore Lea Monkhouseย and junior Savvy Simoย improved to 4-0 on the year on court four, defeating the Waves' Jenna Tunnell and Skylarย Caputo, 21-17, 21-17.
The reigning AVCA/CollegeBeachVB.com National Pair of the Week, junior Lily Justine and senior Sarah Sponcil, remained undefeated on the year at 10-0, puttingย the Bruins up 2-0 ย with a straight-set win over Pepperdine'sย Deahnaย Kraft and Gigiย Hernandezย on court two, 21-17, 21-18.
Another new pairing of freshman Lindsey Sparks and senior Izzy Carey remained undefeated at 4-0, clinchingย the dual victory on court fiveย with a dominant win over the Waves' Nikki Lyons and Katie Gavin, 21-11, 21-10.
The Bruins' undefeated pair of senior Zana Munoย and freshman Abby Van Winkle (9-0) gave UCLA aย 4-0 advantage with aย straight-set winย over Pepperdine'sย Alexis Filippone and Maddieย Dilfer, 21-15, 21-18.
Seniors Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara completed the sweep with a sweep of their own on court one over the Waves' Heidi Dyer and Brook Bauer, 21-15, 21-16.
In exhibition play on court six, pairing for the first time were sophomores Mac May and Megan Muret. The Bruin duo rallied to defeat Pepperdine'sย Melanie Paul and Simone Priebeย in a three-set thriller, 17-21, 21-10, 15-8.
The Bruins return to action this weekend when they host the East Meets West Challenge at Manhattan Beach Pier on March 9-10. The Bruins will face four nationally-ranked teams, beginning on Saturday with No. 6 LSU at 10:30 a.m. PT and then No. 9 FIU at 12:30 p.m. PT. Then on Sunday, UCLA will face No. 4 FSU at Noon and No. 19 TCU at 4:00 p.m. PT.
No. 1 UCLA def. No. 3 Pepperdine, 5-0
Zumaย Beach โข Malibu, Calif.
Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2019
Records: UCLA (10-0), PEPP (6-2)
1.ย Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA) def. Heidi Dyer/Brook Bauer (PEPP);ย 21-15, 21-16
2.ย Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) def. Deahna Kraft/Gigi Hernandez (PEPP);ย 21-17, 21-18
3.ย Abby Van Winkle/Zana Muno (UCLA) def. Alexis Filippone/Maddie Dilfer (PEPP);ย 21-15, 21-18
4.ย Savvy Simo/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA) def. Jenna Tunnell/Skylar Caputo (PEPP);ย 21-17, 21-17
5.ย Lindsey Sparks/Izzy Carey (UCLA) def. Nikki Lyons/Katie Gavin (PEPP);ย 21-11, 21-10
Exh.ย Megan Muret/Mac May (UCLA) def. Melanie Paul/Simone Priebe (PEPP);ย 17-21, 21-10, 15-8
Order of finish:ย 4, 2, 5*, 3, 1
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