UCLA
Grand Canyon
No. 1 UCLA Earns Two 3-2 Wins Over Top Eight Teams
April 16, 2021 | Beach Volleyball
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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.ย -- No. 1 UCLA (23-1) posted back-to-back 3-2 victories on Friday at the Center of Effort Challenge at Cal Poly's Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex. The Bruins opened the day with a win over No. 8 Grand Canyon (16-7) and then capped the day with another thrilling win over No. 5 Loyola Marymount (20-6). With the wins, the Bruins improved to 4-0 all-time against GCU andย 14-2 all-time against the LMU Lions withย 12 straight wins in the series.
In the opening dual, Savvy Simo and Lexy Denaburgย took down the Lopes' Bella Bauman and Anaya Evans in straight setsย 21-18, 21-11 on court one.
The Bruins went up 2-0 on court five when Rileigh Powers and Jaden Whitmarsh defeated.Katie Sarberย and Natalie Honzovicova 21-17, 21-16.
The Lopes got on the board when Madi Relazย and Alina Randallย defeated Lindsey Sparks and Devon Newberry on court two in two tight setsย 21-18, 23-21.
But the Bruins sealed the win on court two whenย Abby Van Winkle and Lea Monkhouseย took down Teagan DeFalcoย and Allison Hansen in a three-set thriller, rallying for aย 16-21, 21-14, 15-12 win.
Paula Hoffman and Allanis Navasย scored the final point of the dual to provide the 3-2 final when they outlastedย Megan Muret and Jacqueline Quadeย on court fourย 21-18, 19-21, 15-11.
In the second dual,ย UCLA's new pairing of Newberry andย Cami Sanchez made quick work of LMU's Sydnie Herrmannย and Darby Dunn on court fourย 21-17, 21-11.
The Bruins went up 2-0 after a court one victory by Simoย and Denaburgย over the Lions'ย Iya Lindahlย and Megan Rice 21-14, 23-21.
The Lions got on the board with a court two win asย Reka Orsi Toth and Selina Marolfย defeatedย Van Winkle and Monkhouse 21-15, 21-11.
Then LMU tied the dual at 2-2 on court three after Jessie Prichard and Savannah Slattery defeatedย Quadeย and Muretย in two close setsย 22-20, 21-18.
It all came down to court five where UCLA's Whitmarsh and Powers defeated Emma Doud and Madi Firnett, 21-14, 15-21, 15-9.
UCLA will concludeย the tournament tomorrow with two more teams ranked in the top six. The Bruins open the day with the hosts, No. 6 Cal Poly (17-6) at 2:00 p.m. PDT followed by a No. 1 vs. No. 2 clash as UCLA faces USC (20-2) at 6:30 p.m.ย
No. 1 UCLA def. No. 8 Grand Canyon, 3-2
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex โข San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Friday, April 16, 2021
RECORDS: UCLA (22-1), GCU (16-7)
1.ย Savvy Simo/Lexy Denaburg (UCLA) def. Bella Bauman/Anaya Evans (GCU); 21-18, 21-11
2. Abby Van Winkle/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA) def. Teagan DeFalco/Allison Hansen (GCU); 16-21, 21-14, 15-12
3. Madi Relaz/Alina Randall (GCU) def. Lindsey Sparks/Devon Newberry (UCLA); 21-18, 23-21
4. Paula Hoffman/Allanis Navas (GCU) def. Megan Muret/Jacqueline Quade (UCLA); 21-18, 19-21, 15-11
5. Rileigh Powers/Jaden Whitmarsh (UCLA) def. Katie Sarber/Natalie Honzovicova (GCU); 21-17, 21-16
Order of finish: 1, 5, 3, 2*, 4
No. 1 UCLA def. No. 5 Loyola Marymount, 3-2
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex โข San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Friday, April 16, 2021
RECORDS: UCLA (23-1), LMU (20-6)
1.ย Savvy Simo/Lexy Denaburg (UCLA) def. Iya Lindahl/Megan Rice (LMU); 21-14, 23-21
2. Reka Orsi Toth/Selina Marolf (LMU) def. Abby Van Winkle/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA); 21-15, 21-11
3. Jessie Prichard/Savannah Slattery (LMU) def. Jacqueline Quade/Megan Muret (UCLA); 22-20, 21-18
4. Cami Sanchez/Devon Newberry (UCLA) def. Sydnie Herrmann/Darby Dunn (LMU) 21-17, 21-11
5. Jaden Whitmarsh/Rileigh Powers (UCLA) def. Emma Doud/Madi Firnett (LMU) 21-14, 15-21, 15-9
Order of finish: 4, 1, 2, 3,ย 5*
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