Women’s Beach Volleyball | February 24, 2023
LOS ANGELES – The fourth-ranked USC beach volleyball team (2-0) defeated No. 6 Grand Canyon (3-1) and No. 14 Long Beach State (0-2) in a pair of 3-2 wins at Merle Norman Stadium on Friday, Feb. 24.
The Women of Troy have now won 38 consecutive duals dating back to March 5, 2022; and improve to 12-0 all-time in season openers. The Trojans also improved to 74-11 all-time at Merle Norman Stadium and have won nine straight home duals. The win over Long Beach State was the 75th-career victory for fourth-year head coach Dain Blanton.
USC improved to 10-1 all-time against Grand Canyon and has won three straight over the Lopes. The Trojans extended their win streak over Long Beach State to 12 victories and go to 13-5 all-time in 18 meetings.
At the top court, juniors Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple paired for just the second time and improved to 3-0 with two wins on the day. The duo also played once together at the fourth position as freshmen in 2021. The Trojans’ No. 2 pair of twin sisters Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse went 1-1 with a win over Long Beach State and a loss to the Lopes.
Graduate transfer Madison “Maddog” Shields and freshman Madison White teamed up for two wins and delivered the clinching point in a thrilling-three-set finish over Long Beach State’s Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah. The Trojans took losses in both duals at the No. 4 spot and earned a split at No. 5 where Delaney Karl and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope got the win over GCU but lost to LBSU.
The Trojans host part of the Pac-12 South Invitational next weekend and will face California and Stanford on Saturday (March 4) and Washington and UCLA on Sunday (March 5). All duals will be shown live on the Pac-12 Networks.
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCBeach.
No. 6 Grand Canyon def. No. 14 Long Beach State, 3-2
Merle Norman Stadium · Los Angeles, Calif.
Friday, February 24, 2023
RECORDS: Grand Canyon (3-0), Long Beach State (0-1)
1. Allison HANSEN/Allanis NAVAS (GCU) def. Christine DEROOS/Mari MOLINA (LBSU); 21-17, 21-17
2. Abbie HUGHES/Samaya MORIN (GCU) def. Sydney STEVENS/Julia WESTBY…
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