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GULF SHORES, Ala. — No. 2 UCLA (34-8) dropped its first dual of the 2022 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship, 3-0, to No. 1 USC (36-1) on Saturday afternoon at Gulf Beach Place. UCLA fell to 14-21 all-time against the Trojans.
Megan Kraft and Sammy Slater put USC on the board first with a 21-13, 21-18, win on court two over UCLA’s Devon Newberry and Jaden Whitmarsh.
Audrey and Nicole Nourse then made it 2-0 USC with a 21-17, 21-13, win on court four over Marlie Monserez and Rileigh Powers.
Tina Graudina and Hailey Harward sealed the Trojans’ win on court one over Lexy Denaburg and Abby Van Winkle, 21-16, 21-13.
UCLA’s Lea Monkhouse and Jessie Smith were unable to finish their match on court three against the Trojans’ Delaynie Maple and Julia Scoles. The Trojans won the first set 21-14 but the Bruins led 19-18 in the second when time was called.
UCLA’s freshman pair of Natalie Myszkowski and Sophie Moore also didn’t finish on court five against USC’s Mollie Ebertin and Sunny Villapando. The Trojans won the first set 21-18, but the Bruins led the second set, 13-12.
UCLA will face the winner of No. 4 Loyola Marymount/No. 5 Florida State in the contender’s bracket final tomorrow at 9:30 a.m./11:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2. The winner will advance to face No. 1 USC for the 2022 NCAA Championship at 1:00 p.m. PT on ESPN2.
No. 1 USC def. No. 2 UCLA, 3-0
Gulf Place Beach • Gulf Shores, Ala.
Saturday, May 7, 2022 • 3:15 PM PT
Records: UCLA (34–8), USC (36-1)
1. Tina Graudina/Hailey Harward (USC) def. Lexy Denaburg/Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) 21-16, 21-13
2. Megan Kraft/Sammy Slater (USC) def. Jaden Whitmarsh/Devon Newberry (UCLA) 21-13, 21-18
3. Lea Monkhouse/Jessie Smith (UCLA) vs. Delaynie Maple/Julia Scoles (USC) 14-21, 19-18, truncated
4. Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) def. Marlie Monserez/Rileigh Powers (UCLA) 21-17, 21-13
5. Natalie Myszkowski/Sophie Moore (UCLA) vs. Mollie Ebertin/Sunny Villapando (USC) 18-21, 13-12, truncated
Order of finish: 2, 4, 1*
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