Megan McNamara (31), Izzy Carey (30) and Nicole McNamara (13) went 4-0 against USC and Pepperdine.
Photo by: Don Liebig, UCLA Photography
No. 3 UCLA Takes Down No. 1 USC, No. 5 Pepperdine, 3-2
February 28, 2018 | Beach Volleyball
The Bruins defeated the two teams that battled it out for the 2017 NCAA Championship on Wednesday at USC.
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LOS ANGELESย -- No. 3 UCLA (4-1) began what could be considered its best day in the history of the young program with a 3-2 win over No. 5 Pepperdineย (2-2) on Wednesday at USC's Merle Norman Stadium.
Freshman Megan Muret and junior Izzy Carey got things started with a straight-set win over Maddieย Dilfer and Nikki Lyons, 21-19, 21-15. Muretย had a double-double of 17 kills and 12 digs to go with four services aces. Carey added nine kills, five digs, three aces and two blocks.
Pepperdine'sย Skylarย Caputo and Alexis Filipponeย tied up the match at 1-1, outlasting the Bruin duo of freshman Mac May and sophomoreย Savvy Simoย in straight sets, 23-21, 21-17. May finished with 13 kills, five digs, three blocks and one ace. Simoย added a double-double of 15 kills and 12 digs and registered one service ace.
On court one,ย UCLA's junior pair of Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara put the Bruins up 2-1 with a straight-set win over the Waves' Corinne Quiggle and Deahnaย Kraft, 21-18, 21-10. Nicole McNamara had a double-double of 18 kills and 13 digs while Megan McNamara tallied nine kills, nine digs and two aces.
UCLA junior Sarah Sponcil and sophomore Lily Justine secured the dual victory on court two when they beat Maddyย Roh and Brook Bauer, 21-17, 21-18 to give the Bruins a 3-1 advantage. Justine had 13 kills, eight digs and four huge blocks, while Sponcilย recorded 12 kills, seven digs and one ace.
Heidi Dyer and Gigiย Hernandez won a tight affair on court three, defeating UCLA senior Elise Zappia and sophomore Madi Yeomans, 21-17, 18-21, 16-14. Yeomansย had a double-double of 20 kills and 10 digs and added four aces and one block. Zappiaย had five kills and 17 digs.
No. 3 UCLA def. No. 5 Pepperdine, 3-2
Merle Norman Stadium โข Los Angeles, Calif.
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018
Records: UCLA (4-1), Pepperdine (2-2)
1. Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA) def. Corinne Quiggle/Deahna Kraft (Pepp.); 21-18, 21-10
2. Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) def. Maddy Roh/Brook Bauer (Pepp.); 21-17, 21-18
3. Heidi Dyer/Gigi Hernandez (Pepp.) def. Madi Yeomans/Elise Zappia (UCLA); 21-17, 18-21, 16-14
4. Skylar Caputo/Alexis Filippone (Pepp.) def. Mac May/Savvy Simo (UCLA); 23-21, 21-17
5. Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA); def. Maddie Dilfer/Nikki Lyons (Pepp.); 21-19, 21-15
Exh: Jamie McQuarrie/Chanti Holroyd (UCLA) def. Kaity Bailey/Katie Gavin (Pepp.); 21-14, 21-11
Order of finish: 5, 4, 1, 2*, 3
UCLA (5-1) then completed the day with its first-ever win at No. 1 USC (4-1), defeating the three-time defending National Champions for the second time overall in program history, 3-2, at USC's Merle Norman Stadium on Wednesday.
UCLA took a 1-0 lead on court five after Bruin freshmanย Megan Muret and junior Izzy Carey defeated the Trojans' Alexandra Poletto and Maja Kaiser in straight sets, 21-12, 21-12.
But the Trojans tied it at 1-1 as Jo Kremer and Jenna Belton defeated freshman Mac Mayย and sophomore Savvy Simoย in straight sets on court four, 21-12, 21-15.
UCLA went up 2-1 on courtย two as juniorย Sarah Sponcil and sophomore Lily Justine defeated USC's Brianna Sizemore and Joy Dennis, 21-11, 21-19.
The Trojans tied it up again at 2-2 on court three when Haley Hallgren and Sammy Slater defeated senior Elise Zappia and sophomore Madi Yeomansย in two tight sets, 21-19, 21-18
On court one, UCLA's Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara clinched the 3-2 dual victory with a 21-17, 21-18 victory overย Tereseย Cannon and Abrilย Bustamante.
The Bruins and the Waves and the Trojans will do it all again this Saturday, March 3, at Zuma Beach in Malibu, Calif. The Bruins will face No. 1 USC at 10:15 a.m. PT and No. 5 Pepperdine at 11:30 a.m. PT.
No. 3 UCLA def. No. 1 USC, 3-2
Merle Norman Stadium โข Los Angeles, Calif.
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018
Records: UCLA (5-1), USC (4-1)
1. Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA) def. Terese Cannon/Abril Bustamante (USC); 21-17, 21-18
2. Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) def. Brianna Sizemore/Joy Dennis (USC); 21-11, 21-18
3. Haley Hallgren/Sammy Slater (USC) def. Madi Yeomans/Elise Zappia (UCLA); 21-19, 21-18
4. Jo Kremer/Jenna Belton (USC) def. Mac May/Savvy Simo (UCLA); 21-12, 21-15
5. Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA) def. Alexandra Poletto/Maja Kaiser (USC); 21-12, 21-12
Exh: Jamie McQuarrie/Chanti Holroyd (UCLA) def. Peri Green/Cammie Dorn (USC); 23-21, 21-16
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 3, 1*
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