Women’s Beach Volleyball | April 24, 2024
TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 1-seeded USC beach volleyball team (30-4) defeated eighth-seeded Utah (19-15) by a 3-0 count in the winner’s bracket opening round of the Pac-12 Championship at Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility on Wednesday, April 24. The Trojans advance to the winner’s bracket semifinal to face No. 4 seed California (21-11) in a 10:15 a.m. PT dual on Thursday (April 25).
The Women of Troy improved to 8-0 all-time against the Utes and moved to 25-7 in duals at the Pac-12 Championship, which includes a 9-1 mark when in the state of Arizona. USC also improved to 37-1 all-time in the Copper State and to 148-17 in duals when ranked No. 1.
The first dual point was scored from the No. 4 position where freshman Ashley Pater and graduate Grace Seits stayed unbeaten (6-0) with a 21-10, 21-11 win over Marissa Koch and Kylie Pitzak.
USC went on top, 2-0, when graduate Maddi Kriz and sophomore Madison White closed out a 21-18, 21-19 decision over Rylee Johnson and Bella Vezzani at the No. 2 position. Kriz-White improved to 7-2 on the season with the win. Kriz herself improved to 27-6 on the season and reached 100-career wins combined with the 73 victories she collected as a member of the Stanford beach volleyball team.
With all three odd-numbered courts under way, the clinching point and the knockout punch was delivered by senior All-Americans Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple from the No. 1 position. The duo improved to 31-3 overall and to 59-6 in their careers with a 21-10, 21-15 win over Langley Griffin and Katie McAlister. Maple scored her 124th career victory, which moved her into a tie with Jenna Belton for fifth all-time in program history for individual victories.
Following the dual decision, play was halted at the third and fifth courts. On three, graduate twins Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse won their first set, 21-8, over Chloe Narancich and Lauren Sayre, and led, 13-8, in the second set. At the fifth court, freshman Madison Goellner and sophomore Mabyn Thomas led, 21-15, 11-4, over Gwen Fife and Milan Ray when play was stopped.
USC-Cal is set for a 10:15 a.m. PT first serve (April 25) and will be shown live on Pac-12 Networks.
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