University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Back-to-Back NCAA Champions Sign Two Standouts
November 18, 2019 | Beach Volleyball
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LOS ANGELES – UCLA Beach Volleyball Head Coach Stein Metzger unveiled today the program's highly-touted 2020 recruiting class, as the Bruins signed two local products to National Letters of Intent. The class includes Peri Brennan (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach HS), and Tessa Van Winkle (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS).
The talented pair will enter UCLA in the fall of 2020 as freshmen and will become members of the 2021 UCLA Beach Volleyball team.
Peri Brennan | 5-7 | Laguna Beach, Calif. | Laguna Beach HS
Hailing from Laguna Beach, Calif., where she attended Laguna Beach High School, Brennan earned two varsity letters on the indoor volleyball team as a freshman and sophomore (2016 and 2017) and for three years on the beach (2017-19). A First Team All-League selection on the indoor squad, Brennan has served as captain of the beach volleyball team. She won the State Pairs Tournament as a sophomore and junior (2018-19) and also finished third at BVCA's. She was honored by the CBVA Hall of Fame and USA Volleyball for having the highest points for Women's AAA. Lists her greatest athletic thrill to date as placing fourth at a NORCECA event in La Paz, Mexico.
Metzger on Brennan:
"Peri is a very accomplished competitor whose record speaks for itself as she is the No. 1 ranked adult player in the CBVA. Her ball control, attention to detail and winning mentality will serve her and the program well for the coming years."
Brennan on why she chose UCLA:
"I decided to commit to UCLA because of its stellar beach volleyball program and beautiful campus."
Tessa Van Winkle | 6-2 | San Clemente, Calif. | San Clemente HS
Standing 6-foot-2 and hailing from San Clemente, Calif., Van Winkle attends San Clemente High School where she has earned two varsity letters in indoor and beach volleyball. She also earned a letter in volleyball as an outside hitter her freshman year (2016) at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. In 2016, Van Winkle and SMCHS won the Trinity League title and also won a CIF Division 1 Championship while finishing second at State. She has also won a Sea View League title in indoor and beach volleyball while at San Clemente HS. She follows a long line of family members that have national championship pedigree as her sister Abby Van Winkle is currently a sophomore on the beach volleyball team and won a national championship her freshman year. Her mother, Laurie Van Winkle, played indoor volleyball for the Bruins and won two national championships and her great uncle, Bob Ramsey, swam and played water polo for UCLA, winning two national championships as well. She competes for Wave Beach for club volleyball and has been a member of the USA Beach Volleyball A1 High Performance team for the past three years (2017-present). She also is an AVP First champion and has two first-place finishes to her credit in the CBVA Women's AAA and a second-place finish in the CBVA Laguna Beach Open.
Metzger on Van Winkle:
"Tessa is a dynamic and formidable blocker. Her physicality and strong work ethic will have an immediate impact on the program. We are very excited to welcome her to the Bruin family."
Van Winkle on why she chose UCLA:
"I chose to attend UCLA because it has always been my dream ever since I was little. The coaching staff couldn't be better, the academics are excellent, the campus is beautiful, and the food is amazing."
The UCLA Beach Volleyball team is excited for its newest family members to be arriving on campus and for the start of the 2020 season in February at our new home, Mapes Beach.
