No. 3 UCLA Claims COE Crown with 3-2 Win Over No. 2 USC

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — No. 3 UCLA (30-2) won the Center of Effort Challenge title with a 3-2 win over No. 2 USC (24-2) on Saturday night at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex. The Bruins improved to 15-22 all-time against the Trojans, snapping USC’s 14-match win streak while putting a halt to a six-dual losing skid to the crosstown rival. The Bruins won the title after taking down the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the country in back-to-back days.

Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple put the Trojans on the board first with a 22-20, 21-11 win on court one over Abby Van Winkle and Peri Brennan.

Graduate student Marlie Monserez and sophomore Jessie Smith improved to 6-0 on the year with a 21-18, 24-22 win over USC’s Gabby Walker and Olivia Bakos on court four to tie things up at 1-1.

Senior Lexy Denaburg and freshman Maggie Boyd gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead with a 22-20, 21-16 win on court two over Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse.

Madison Shields and Madison White handed Haley Hallgren and Rileigh Powers their first loss of the season (27-1) in a tight 23-21, 21-19 win on court three to tie the dual at 2-2.

Graduate student Jaden Whitmarsh and senior Devon Newberry clinched the dual for the Bruins on court five by defeating the Trojans’ Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope and Bailey Showalter, 21-12, 17-21, 15-10.

The Bruins return to action on Thursday, Apr 20, for a “Senior Day” clash with the Trojans at 12:00 p.m. and then a bout with No. 6 LMU at 4:00 p.m. Both duals will be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks. The festivities for the seniors and graduate students will be after the LMU contest.

No. 3 UCLA def. No. 2 USC, 3-2

Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex • San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Saturday, Apr. 15, 2023 • 5:45 PM

Records: UCLA (30-2), USC (24-2)

1. Megan Kraft/Laynie Maple (USC) def. Abby Van Winkle/Peri Brennan (UCLA) 22-20, 21-11

2. Lexy Denaburg/Maggie Boyd (UCLA) def. Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) 22-20, 21-16

3. Madison Shields/Madison White (USC) def. Haley Hallgren/Rileigh Powers (UCLA) 23-21, 21-19

4. Marlie Monserez/Jessie Smith (UCLA) def. Gabby Walker/Olivia Bakos (USC) 21-18, 24-22

5. Devon Newberry/Jaden Whitmarsh (UCLA) def. Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope/Bailey Showalter (USC) 21-12, 17-21, 15-10

Order of finish: 1, 4,…