UCLA Wins Center of Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge

Saturday, April 11

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

10:15 AM (PT)

UCLA

Arizona State

2026 Center of Effort Challenge Champions

UCLA Wins Center of Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge

April 11, 2026 | Beach Volleyball

San Luis Obispo, Calif. - No. 2 UCLA won the Center of Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge in San Luis Obispo Saturday after a 3-2 win over USC in the championship match.

The final was tightly-contested between the crosstown rivals. USC struck first with a court 5 win, but UCLA took the next two matches, with Kaley Mathews and Ensley Alden earning a 21-17, 21-18 victory on court 2, and Sally Perez and Maggie Boyd beating Kennedy Coakley and Zoey Henson, 27-25, 21-18. Courts 3 and 4 each went to third set tiebreakers. USC's Kyra Zaengle and Calinda Kok fought off two match points to pull out a 27-29, 21-15, 17-15 victory on court 4 and tie the match at 2-2, but Alexa Fernandez and Harper Cooper took the match for the Bruins a few minutes later with a 19-21, 21-18, 15-11 win on court 3.

The Bruins advanced to the championship match after a 5-0 win over Arizona State on Saturday morning. UCLA earned the sweep with four straight-set wins on courts 1-4. Mathews and Alden earned the first point on court 2, winning 21-10, 21-6. Perez and Boyd made it 2-0 with a 21-17, 21-15 victory on court 1. Fernandez and Cooper clinched the win after beating a 21-15, 21-8 victory on court 3. Ava Williamson and Jesse Dueck earned a 22-20, 22-20 victory on court 4, and Kenzie Brower and Mallory LaBreche came from behind to win their match on court 5, 16-21, 21-9, 15-10.

The Bruins (25-4) will host CSU Bakersfield on Tuesday at 3pm for Senior Day before playing a dual at USC on Thursday at Noon.

No. 2 UCLA def. No. 13 Arizona State 5-0
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Saturday, April 11, 2026 • 10:15 a.m. PT
Records: UCLA (24-4), Arizona State (16-12)

1. Sally Perez / Maggie Boyd (UCLA) def. Samaya Morin / Daniella Kensinger (ASU) 21-17, 21-15
2. Kaley Mathews / Ensley Alden (UCLA) def. Ava Kirunchyk / Olivia McElroy (ASU) 21-10, 21-16
3. Alexa Fernandez / Harper Cooper (UCLA) def. Reagan Hope / Arden Besecker (ASU) 21-15, 21-8
4. Ava Williamson / Jesse Dueck (UCLA) def. McKenna Flaherty / Kristin Gilmour (ASU) 22-20, 22-20
5. Kenzie Brower / Mallory LaBreche (UCLA) def. Zoe Taylor and Layla Williams (ASU) 16-21, 21-9, 15-10

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3*, 4, 5

No. 2 UCLA def. No. 4 USC (Championship Match)
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Saturday, April 11, 2026 • 5:45 p.m. PT
Records: UCLA (25-4), USC (26-7)

1. Sally Perez / Maggie Boyd (UCLA) def. Kennedy Coakley / Zoey Henson (USC) 27-25, 21-18
2. Kaley Mathews / Ensley Alden (UCLA) def. Ashley Pater / Sarah Wood (USC) 21-17, 21-18
3. Alexa Fernandez / Harper Cooper (UCLA) def. Bella Satterwhite / Kerry Keefe (USC) 19-21, 21-18, 15-11
4. Kyra Zaengle / Calinda Kok (USC) def. Ava Williamson / Adelina Okazaki (UCLA) 27-29, 21-15, 17-15
5. Madison Goellner / Kaileigh Truslow (USC) def. Kenzie Brower / Mallory LaBreche (UCLA) 21-15, 21-15

Order of finish: 5, 2, 1, 4, 3*