No. 5-ranked USC beach volleyball (23-8) came up short against top-ranked crosstown rival UCLA (29-4) on Thursday, dropping a tightly contested 3-2 match at Mapes Beach in Los Angeles.
The loss snapped USC’s three-match win streak over UCLA and moved the Trojans to 28-21 all-time against the Bruins. At Mapes Beach, USC now holds just one win in nine appearances.
UCLA struck first with a straight-set win on Court 2, as Peri Brennan and Natalie Myszkowski edged USC’s Kennedy Coakley and Ashley Pater, 21-19, 21-19. The result ended the Trojan duo’s impressive 20-match winning streak.
USC quickly responded with a victory on Court 4. Delaney Karl and Ella Larkin rallied after dropping the first set, defeating Kaley Mathews and Sophie Moore, 16-21, 21-17, 15-7, to even the score.
The Bruins regained the lead with a win on Court 5. Ensley Alden and Harper Cooper beat Macy Bolyard and Madison Goellner, 21-19, 21-11.
The dual was clinched on Court 1 when UCLA’s Maggie Boyd and Sally Perez topped Zoey Henson and Madison White in straight sets, 21-18, 21-18.
Although the match was already decided, USC added a second point from Court 3. Maya Gessner and Mabyn Thomas claimed a hard-fought 21-18, 22-20 win over Kenzie Brower and Alexa Fernandez.
In an exhibition match, USC’s Grace Hong and Calinda Kok defeated UCLA’s Madeline Bonanni and Tessa Van Winkle, 21-13, 21-16.
Next, the Women of Troy will prepare for the first-ever MPSF Championship, set for April 23-25 at Newland Beach in Huntington Beach. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. All matches will stream on Big Ten Plus (B1G+), and the title match on Friday at noon PT will air live on Big Ten Network.
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