University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Harper Cooper and Ensley Alden
Photo by: Jenny Xu
Beach Volleyball Earns Preseason No. 1 Ranking
February 17, 2026 | Beach Volleyball
The UCLA Beach Volleyball team has been ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Preseason Poll, earning 12 of the 21 first-place votes.
The Bruins went 32-7 a year ago and return seven starters from last year's squad, led by 2025 MPSF Pair of the Year and first-team All-Americans Maggie Boyd and Sally Perez. Also back for 2026 are Kenzie Brower, Alexa Fernandez, Kaley Mathews, Harper Cooper and Ensley Alden. UCLA also adds transfer Ava Williamson, who was a second-team All-American in 2024 at Arizona State, and a freshman class that includes Junior Beach All-Americans Olivia Le Blanc, Mallory LaBreche and Alina Ryan.
UCLA will face five Top 10 teams on opening weekend at the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic in Hawaii, opening against No. 6 Texas on Thursday, Feb. 19. The Bruins will also compete against No. 7 LMU and No. 2 Stanford on Friday, Feb. 20 and No. 9 California and No. 4 USC on Saturday, Feb. 21.
AVCA COLLEGIATE BEACH VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL (Feb. 17, 2026)
1. UCLA (12 first-place votes), 396 points
2. Stanford (2), 379
3. Cal Poly (2), 366
4. USC, 348
5. TCU (4), 340
6. Texas (1), 328
7. LMU, 293
8. Florida State, 280
9. California, 252
10. Long Beach State, 214
11. Arizona State, 213
12. LSU, 203
13. GCU, 143
14. Stetson, 120
15. FAU, 95
16. Hawai'i, 91
17. North Florida, 78
18. Georgia State, 70
19. Washington, 69
20. Tulane, 35
The Bruins went 32-7 a year ago and return seven starters from last year's squad, led by 2025 MPSF Pair of the Year and first-team All-Americans Maggie Boyd and Sally Perez. Also back for 2026 are Kenzie Brower, Alexa Fernandez, Kaley Mathews, Harper Cooper and Ensley Alden. UCLA also adds transfer Ava Williamson, who was a second-team All-American in 2024 at Arizona State, and a freshman class that includes Junior Beach All-Americans Olivia Le Blanc, Mallory LaBreche and Alina Ryan.
UCLA will face five Top 10 teams on opening weekend at the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic in Hawaii, opening against No. 6 Texas on Thursday, Feb. 19. The Bruins will also compete against No. 7 LMU and No. 2 Stanford on Friday, Feb. 20 and No. 9 California and No. 4 USC on Saturday, Feb. 21.
AVCA COLLEGIATE BEACH VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL (Feb. 17, 2026)
1. UCLA (12 first-place votes), 396 points
2. Stanford (2), 379
3. Cal Poly (2), 366
4. USC, 348
5. TCU (4), 340
6. Texas (1), 328
7. LMU, 293
8. Florida State, 280
9. California, 252
10. Long Beach State, 214
11. Arizona State, 213
12. LSU, 203
13. GCU, 143
14. Stetson, 120
15. FAU, 95
16. Hawai'i, 91
17. North Florida, 78
18. Georgia State, 70
19. Washington, 69
20. Tulane, 35
Players Mentioned
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Mic'd Up - Ensley Alden
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UCLA Beach Volleyball vs Long Beach (04-09-2024)
Tuesday, April 16
UCLA vs USC Highlights
Friday, April 29
UCLA Highlights vs. California
Friday, April 29