UCLA won the Center of Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge in San Luis Obispo on April 11, defeating USC 3-2 in a closely contested championship match.
The win is significant for UCLA as it came against their crosstown rivals and followed a strong performance earlier that day. The Bruins advanced to the final after sweeping Arizona State with a 5-0 victory.
In the championship match, USC took an early lead with a win on court 5. UCLA responded by winning matches on courts 2 and 1, with Kaley Mathews and Ensley Alden securing a straight-set victory on court 2, and Sally Perez and Maggie Boyd winning on court 1. The competition remained tight as courts 3 and 4 went to third set tiebreakers. While USC’s Kyra Zaengle and Calinda Kok managed to tie the overall score at two apiece by winning court 4, Alexa Fernandez and Harper Cooper clinched the title for UCLA with their three-set win on court 3.
Earlier in the day, UCLA faced Arizona State in the semifinals. The Bruins earned four straight-set victories across courts one through four before Kenzie Brower and Mallory LaBreche completed a comeback win in three sets on court five. This sweep secured their place in the championship round.
Following this tournament victory, UCLA (25-4) is scheduled to host CSU Bakersfield for Senior Day before facing USC again later that week.
