SOCIAL MEDIA: BeachVB on Twitter | BeachVB on Facebook | BeachVB on Instagram
MALIBU, Calif. -- UCLA (5-2) dropped a heartbreaker today in its first dual on Saturday afternoon, falling to No. 1 USC (5-3) at Zuma Beach, 3-2.
UCLA took a 1-0 lead on court five after Bruin junior Zana Muno made her season debut and paired with sophomore Savvy Simo to take down Alexandra Poletto and Maja Kaiser in straight sets, 21-15, 21-16.
But the Trojans tied it at 1-1 as Jo Kremer and Jenna Belton defeated freshman Megan Muret and junior Izzy Carey in two tight sets on court four, 25-23, 21-19.
UCLA went up 2-1 on court two as junior Sarah Sponcil and sophomore Lily Justine defeated USC's Brianna Sizemore and Sammy Slater, 23-21, 21-15.
The Trojans tied it up again at 2-2 on court one as Terese Cannon and Abril Bustamante defeated UCLA's Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara.in three sets,
21-18, 8-21, 15-6.
The match was decided on court three when Joy Dennis and Haley Hallgren defeated senior Elise Zappia and sophomore Madi Yeomans in three sets, 18-21, 23-21, 15-11.
No. 1 USC def. No. 3 UCLA, 3-2
Zuma Beach • Malibu, Calif.
Saturday, Mar. 3, 2018
Records: UCLA (5-2), USC (5-3)
1: Terese Cannon/Abril Bustamante (USC) def. Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA) – 21-18, 8-21, 15-6
2: Sarah Sponcil/Lily Justine (UCLA) def. Brianna Sizemore/Sammy Slater (USC) – 23-21, 21-15
3: Joy Dennis/Haley Hallgren (USC) def. Elise Zappia/Madi Yeomans (UCLA) – 18-21, 23-21, 15-11
4: Jo Kremer/Jenna Belton (USC) def. Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA) – 25-23, 21-19
5: Zana Muno/Savvy Simo (UCLA) def. Alexandra Poletto/Maja Kaiser (USC) – 21-15, 21-16
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 1, 3*
No. 3 UCLA (5-3) concluded the day with a 4-1 loss at No. 5 Pepperdine (5-2) in the final game of the Zuma Classic.
Pepperdine's Skylar Caputo and Alexis Filippone gave the Waves a 1-0 lead when they defeated junior Zana Muno and sophomore Savvy Simo in straight sets, 21-16, 21-12 on court four.
The Waves went up 2-0 on court two when Corinne Quiggle and Deahna Kraft defeated UCLA junior Sarah Sponcil and sophomore Lily Justine, 22-20, 21-16.
Maddie Dilfer and Jordan Ferrari clinched the dual victory for the Waves on court five with a straight-set win over UCLA freshman Megan Muret and junior Izzy Carey, 21-18, 21-12.
On court one, Brooke Bauer and Madalyn Roh made it 4-0 with a three-set thriller over UCLA's junior pair of Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara, 21-15, 13-21, 15-13.
UCLA senior Elise Zappia and sophomore Madi Yeomans broke up the shutout on court three with another three-setter, 20-22, 21-11, 15-12.
The Bruins return to action on Thursday, March 8 when they host a tri-dual with UCLA vs. Hawai'i at 9:00 a.m. PT followed by Hawai'i vs. Cal Poly at 11:30 a.m. PT and concluding with UCLA vs. Cal Poly at 2:00 p.m. PT at Sunset Canyon Beach Volleyball Courts.
No. 5 Pepperdine def. No. 3 UCLA, 4-1
Zuma Beach • Malibu, Calif.
Saturday, Mar. 3, 2018
Records: UCLA (5-3), Pepperdine (5-2)
1: Brooke Bauer/Madalyn Roh (PEPP) def. Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA) – 21-15, 13-21, 15-13
2: Deahna Kraft/Corinne Quiggle (PEPP) def. Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) – 22-20, 21-16
3: Madi Yeomans/Elise Zappia (UCLA) def. Heidi Dyer/Gigi Hernandez (PEPP) – 20-22, 21-11, 15-12
4: Skylar Caputo/Alexis Filippone (PEPP) def. Zana Muno/Savvy Simo (UCLA) – 21-16, 21-12
5: Maddie Dilfer/Jordan Ferrari (PEPP) def. Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA) – 21-18, 21-12
EXH: Jamie McQuarrie/Chanti Holroyd (UCLA) def. Nikki Lyons/Katie Gavin (PEPP) – 22-20, 22-20
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 5*, 1, 3