University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA’s Boyd, Perez Selected to AVCA Beach Player of Year Watch List
February 16, 2026 | Beach Volleyball
Boyd, a senior from Flower Mound, Texas, is a three-time first-team All-American and all-conference selection. She was named the MPSF Player of the Year in 2025 and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2023. Boyd holds a career record of 92-17 and enters the 2026 season on a streak of 14 consecutive dual match victories. Boyd is also a star in the classroom, earning second-team Academic All-America honors, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award and two conference all-academic honors.
Perez, a sophomore from Apex, N.C., is coming off an outstanding freshman campaign. In 2025, she earned first-team AVCA All-America honors and was named the MPSF Freshman of the Year while receiving first-team All-MPSF honors. She earned Director's Honor Roll distinction in each of her three quarters. This fall, she won the FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championship with Stanford's Avery Jackson. The duo became just the second-ever American pair to win gold at the event.
More players may be added as the season progresses, and a group of semifinalists may be revealed in early April. The four finalists will be named shortly before the 2026 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship with the announcement of the Player of the Year taking place in Gulf Shores at an awards banquet during the 2026 Championship.
2026 AVCA Collegiate Beach Player of the Year Watch List
Maggie Boyd, UCLA (Sr.)
Kennedy Coakley, USC (So.)
Ella Connor, Cal Poly (R-Sr.)
Emma Donley, California (Jr.)
Alexis Durish, Florida State (Sr.)
Malia Gementera, Long Beach State (Sr.)
Taylor Hagenah, Long Beach State (Sr.)
Zoey Henson, USC (Jr.)
Erin Inskeep, Cal Poly (Jr.)
Avery Jackson, Stanford (So.)
Anhelina Khmil, TCU (Sr.)
Audrey Koenig, Florida State (Gr.)
Sally Perez, UCLA (So.)
Brecht Piersma, Texas (So.)
Ruby Sorra, Stanford (Jr.)
Madison White, Texas (Gr.)
