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No. 8 UCLA Defeats California, 4-1, at the Stanford Invitational
April 11, 2015 | Beach Volleyball
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STANFORD, Calif. - The eighth-ranked Bruins (6-1) opened the Stanford Invitational with a 4-1 win over the California Golden Bears (4-11) on Friday afternoon at the Arrillaga Center For Sports And Recreation. The Bruins won the first-ever meeting in sand volleyball against Cal.
The UCLA No. 1 doubles pair of Kamila Tan and Zoë Nightingale was involved in a dramatic affair, coming back to defeat Cal's Sarah Cole and Emily Lunt in three sets, 19-21, 21-10, 15-13. After dropping a tight first set 21-19 the Bruins easily won the second set 21-10. UCLA jumped out to a 14-7 advantage in the decisive third set. Cal then staved off six straight match points behind some solid blocking by Cole and trimmed the deficit to 14-13. But UCLA was able to close it out 15-13. The newly formed Bruin pair is now 3-2 on the year.
At #2 doubles, the Bruins' Elise Zappia and Madie Smith had no problem with California's Bryce Bark and Emily Schults, winning in straight sets, 21-14, 21-7, to improve to 8-3 on the season.
Julie Consani and Laurel Weaver also won in straight sets defeating the Golden Bear tandem of Inanna Eshoo and Katie Regalia, 21-14, 21-12 at No. 3 doubles. The Bruin tandem is now 6-1 in 2015.
At #4 doubles, Karly Drolson and Rachel Inouye dominated from start to finish, winning easily, 21-5, 21-6, over Cal's Allison Leong and Teya Neff. The Bruin pair is now 6-2 on the year.
The Bruins' lone casualty of the day was at #5 doubles, where Cal's Mackenzie Feldman and Sammy Furlan defeated Ivey Schmitt and Anastasia Kunz in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14. The Bruins' duo led 18-17 in the first set, but Cal scored the final four points to take the set. The second set was close early on but Feldman and Furlan pulled away to secure the lone point for the Golden Bears.
In exhibition play, Kendahl Hettick and Lexi Jasper-Baylin def. Sabrina Blackwell and Ashley Johnson in a three-set thriller, 21-16, 16-21, 15-13.
The Bruins return to action tomorrow at the Stanford Invitational when they face the Cardinal at 9:00 a.m. followed by a rematch with Saint Mary's at Noon.
#8 UCLA 4, California 1 - Friday, April 10, 2015 - Stanford, Calif.
#1 -Zoë Nightingale/Kamila Tan (UCLA) def. Sarah Cole/Emily Lunt (CAL), 19-21, 21-10, 15-13
#2 - Madie Smith/Elise Zappia (UCLA) def. Bryce Bark/Emily Schults (CAL), 21-14, 21-7
#3 - Julie Consani/Laurel Weaver (UCLA) def. Inanna Eshoo/Katie Regalia (CAL), 21-14, 21-12
#4 - Karly Drolson/Rachel Inouye (UCLA) def. Allison Leong/Teya Neff (CAL), 21-5, 21-6
#5 - Mackenzie Feldman/Sammy Furlan (CAL) def. Anastasia Kunz/Ivey Schmitt (UCLA), 21-18, 21-14
Exh. - Kendahl Hettick/Lexi Jasper-Baylin (UCLA) def. Sabrina Blackwell/Ashley Johnson (CAL), 21-16, 16-21, 15-13
