UCLA
UCLA at Hawai'i
No. 1 UCLA Defeats Two Top Five Teams
February 24, 2019 | Beach Volleyball
SOCIAL MEDIA: BeachVB on Twitter | BeachVB on Facebook | BeachVB on Instagram
HONOLULU -- No. 1 UCLA ran its 2019 record to 5-0 with two more victories on Sunday at the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic at Queen's Beach. The Bruins opened with a 5-0 victory at No. 5 Hawai'i, their fourth-straight sweep to open the year, and then ended the tournament with a 4-1 win over No. 4 Pepperdine.
In the morning win over the Rainbow Wahine, the Bruins got an immediate boost in their lineup with the return of seniors Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara on court one, shifting all Bruins down a court.
Junior Savvy Simo and sophomore Mac May posted a straight-set victory on court four, defeating UH's Pani Napoleon and Kylin Loker, 21-17, 21-18.
Freshman Abby Van Winkle and senior Zana Muno put the Bruins up 2-0 on court three with a straight-set win over the Rainbow Wahine's Julia Scoles and Ari Homayun, 21-13, 21-18.
The McNamara twins then clinched the dual, dominating the third set to post a win over Hawai'i's Amy Ozee and Morgan Martin, 21-17, 13-21, 15-6.
Senior Izzy Carey and sophomore Megan Muret also won in three sets and in a commanding fashion in the third, coming back after losing the first set to defeat Paige Dreeuws and Jenna Banz, 20-22, 21-17, 15-7.
Junior Lily Justine and senior Sarah Sponcil also rallied to win in three sets, defeating Hi'ilawe Huddleston and Emily Maglio, 14-21, 22-20, 15-12. The duo trailed 19-16 in the second set after dropping the first, only to come back and win their match.
No. 1 UCLA def. No. 5 Hawai'i, 5-0
Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic • Honolulu, Hawaii
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019
Records: UCLA (4-0), Hawai'i (1-2)
1. Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA) def. Amy Ozee/Morgan Martin (UH) 21-17, 13-21, 15-6
2. Sarah Sponcil/Lily Justine (UCLA) def. Hi'ilawe Huddleston/Emily Maglio (UH) 14-21, 22-20, 15-12
3. Abby Van Winkle/Zana Muno (UCLA) def. Julia Scoles/Ari Homayun (UH) 21-13, 21-18
4. Mac May/Savvy Simo (UCLA) def. Pani Napoleon/Kylin Loker (UH) 21-17, 21-18
5. Megan Muret/Izzy Carey (UCLA) def. Paige Dreeuws/Jenna Banz (UH) 20-22, 21-17, 15-7
Order of finish: 4, 3, 1*, 5, 2
In the afternoon win over the Waves, the Bruins got off to an early lead on court five when senior Izzy Carey and sophomore Megan Muret posted a straight-set win over Pepperdine's Nikki Lyons and Katie Gavin, 21-15, 21-17.
But the Waves tied the score at 1-1 moments later on court four when Maddie Dilfer and Alexis Filippone defeated the Bruin pair of sophomore Mac May and junior Savvy Simo in straight sets, 21-19, 21-16.
Junior Lily Justine and senior Sarah Sponcil put the Bruins up 2-1 on court two with a straight-set win over the Waves' Skylar Caputo and Deahna Kraft, 21-17, 21-15.
Freshman Abby Van Winkle and senior Zana Muno clinched the dual with an easy straight-set win over Gigi Hernandez and Jenna Tunnell on court three, 21-13, 21-11.
All that was left was the marathon going on at court one. Seniors Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara dropped the first set to Pepperdine's Brook Bauer and Heidi Dyer, 17-21. But the twins put on their rally caps and won back-to-back sets by a score of 24-22 to win a three-set thriller, giving the Bruins a 4-1 victory.
UCLA returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 27, with a 3:00 p.m. PT start time at No. 2 USC live on the Pac-12 Networks. It is the first of three scheduled meetings with the Trojans during the regular season.
No. 1 UCLA def. No. 4 Pepperdine, 4-1
Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic • Honolulu, Hawaii
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019
Records: UCLA (5-0), Pepperdine (3-1)
1. Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA) def. Brook Bauer/Heidi Dyer (PEP) 17-21, 24-22, 24-22
2. Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) def. Skylar Caputo/Deahna Kraft (PEP) 21-17, 21-15
3. Zana Muno/Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) def. Gigi Hernandez/Jenna Tunnell (PEP) 21-13, 21-11
4. Maddie Dilfer/Alexis Filippone (PEP) def. Mac May/Savvy Simo (UCLA) 21-19, 21-16
5. Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA) def. Nikki Lyons/Katie Gavin (PEP) 21-15, 21-17
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 3*, 1
