University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
2026 Beach Volleyball Roster
Roster
Alexa Fernandez
- Height:
- 5-8
- Class:
- Sophomore
- High School:
- Lutheran South Academy
- Hometown:
- Friendswood, Texas
UCLA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• AVCA Fall Pairs National Championship Runners-Up (2025)
• MSPF All-Freshman Team (2025)
• 3-time UCLA Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025)
FALL 2025
Sophomore Alexa Fernandez and junior Cassie Dodd finished in second place at the 2025 AVCA Fall Pairs National Championship on Nov. 9. The duo opened with a win over Jacksonville's Hayden Garnett and Meredith Mrukowski in straight sets, 21-14, 21-13. The sixth-seeded duo advanced in the winner's bracket after a 15-21, 21-15, 15-13 win over Boise State's 38th-seeded pair of Ava Anderson and Addison Wolden. They advanced to the quarterfinals with a 21-16, 21-13 win over 11th-seeded Lily Dee Davis and Madison White of Texas. They made it to the semifinals with a 24-22, 21-14 win over LMU's 14th-seeded duo of Jaeya Brach and Chloe Hooker. The Bruin duo then advanced to the finals with a three-set thriller (21-19, 18-21, 15-8) over the seventh-seeded pair from TCU, Natalie Glenn and Anhelina Khmil. They fell in the title match to fifth-seeded Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah of Long Beach State, 21-16, 21-15.
2025
Ended the season with an overall record of 20-14 (20-14 career) … began the season partnering with Tessa Van Winkle and went 2-4 (all on court four) … ended the year with Kaley Mathews (29 of the last 31 duals including the postseason), recording a record of 18-9 (1-0 on court three, 15-9 on court four, and 2-0 on court five) … also went 0-1 on court three with Kenzie Brower … the Bruins faced 32 ranked opponents in the 39 duals on the year with Fernandez going 17-14 against ranked teams … recorded a season-best winning streak of seven duals (all with Mathews) which began vs. No. 1 USC (Feb. 22) and ended vs. No. 9 California (March 8) … Fernandez clinched four victories in dual matches on the year for the Bruins (all with Mathews) with the biggest coming in a 3-0 MPSF Championship first-round victory over No. 9 California on Apr. 24 at Huntington Beach … Fernandez and Mathews went 2-3 in postseason play (1-1 at NCAAs and 1-2 at MPSFs with one truncated match) … Fernandez went 14-9 in two-set matches (12-6 with Mathews, 2-2 with Van Winkle, and 0-1 with Brower) and 6-5 in three-set matches on the year (6-3 with Mathews and 0-2 with Van Winkle).
FALL 2024
Freshman Alexa Fernandez and senior Reagan Hope reached the finals of the 17th bracket before officials decided not to play it out to completion. The duo had an impressive 5-1 record with a lot of hard-fought victories that went the distance. Fernandez and Hope, originally seeded 10th, won their pool with a 2-0 record. They opened with a three-set thriller over FIU's (55th seed) Aleksandra Chudzik and Arianna Franklin, 17-21, 21-15, 15-9 on Friday and closed the day with another three-setter, this time defeating Florida Atlantic's (23rd seed) Julie Honzovicova and Kate McLaughlin, rallying for a 14-21, 21-19, 21-19 win. They were reseeded 16th in the Champions Bracket and fell to the 17th-seeded duo from Stanford, Avery Jackson and Taylor Wilson, 21-14, 21-19. That relegated them to the 17th Bracket, where their grit and toughness was put on display again winning three more matches, all in three sets, to reach the finals of the 17th Bracket. Seeded first in the 17th Bracket, the Bruin duo opened with a 21-18, 32-34, 15-11 win on Saturday over GCU's (16th seed) Becca Drake and Jessica Drake. Then on Sunday, they took down the eighth seed from LSU, Gabi Bailey and Parker Bracken, 16-21, 21-14, 15-13, and the fourth-seeded pair from Florida State, Gella Andrew and Myriah Massey, 21-15, 15-21, 15-12. They were expected to take on the 15 seed, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi's Madison Morrow and Tess Spaansen. The Islanders' duo posted upsets of No. 2 Washington, No. 10 USC, and No. 3 Hawai'i en route to the finals of the 17th Bracket.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB
Attended Lutheran Southern Academy all four years … lettered her freshman year in indoor volleyball as an outside hitter and setter before switching to beach volleyball … notched 266 kills, 190 digs, and 21 blocks during her high school career and was named TAPPS 5A First Team All-State … played club beach volleyball for MadSand (2022) and Future Beach Volleyball (2023-24) … was a U19 USA Volleyball Beach National Team Alternate in 2022 … received JVA Best in Beach honors (2023) … competed in the 2023 U21 Beach World Championships in Thailand.
PERSONAL
Full name: Alexa Aurora Fernandez … born in Houston, Texas … parents Karla and Sergio … has an older brother Sergio Jr. and two older sisters Felicia and Sofia … decided to attend UCLA because, “It checked all the boxes for me. The opportunities to be challenged academically, learn from the program’s incredible coaching staff, and be on the most beautiful campus were everything I ever wanted!” … athletes she admires most include Sydney McLaughlin, Kristen Nuss, and Misty May-Treanor … describes her greatest athletic thrill as, “Competing in the 2023 U21 Beach World Championships in Thailand where I fell deeper in love with the sport.” … hobbies include Bible studies, watching movies, lifting weights, trying new food, and traveling with family … interesting facts about her are that she is fluent in Spanish and enjoys juggling … majoring in physiological science.
