USC
UCLA
No. 1 Trojans Sweep No. 6 Bruins in Crosstown Showdown
March 06, 2016 | Women's Beach Volleyball
Follow, Like, Instagram, Periscope, and Snap with @USCBeach
March 6, 2016
MALIBU, Calif. -- The No. 1-ranked USC beach volleyball team (2-1) put away No. 6 UCLA (2-1) with a 5-0 sweep in the Pepperdine Kick Off on Sunday, March 6, at Zuma Beach. The Women of Troy earned 10 points for USC in the BMW Crosstown Cup competition and returned to the win column following a narrow loss to No. 2 Pepperdine.
The middle of the Trojan lineup stepped up to put the Bruins away with a trio of straight-set victories set off by the pair of junior Sophie Bukovec and senior Alexa Strange. The tandem knocked off Izzy Carey and Elise Zappia, 21-14, 21-17, on court two. At court three, juniors Nicolette Martin and Allie Wheeler posted a 21-17, 21-17 win over Ivey Schmitt and Kamila Tan to put USC ahead, 2-0, in the dual.
Sophomore Jenna Belton paired with freshman Abril Bustamante on court four to clinch the dual for the Women of Troy on a 21-14, 21-11 win over Julie Consani and Laurel Weaver. At five, sophomore Jo Kremer and senior Zoe Nightingale dropped a 21-13 result to Karly Drolson and Rachel Inouye in the first set, but came back to post a 21-13 win in the second. The Trojan duo took care of business with a 15-13 win in the third for a 4-0 USC lead.
The Trojans completed the 5-0 sweep on the top court where juniors Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes defeated Megan and Nicole McNamara. Claes and Hughes won the first set, 21-19, but were pushed the distance in a 29-27 loss in the second set. The Trojan pair came out with a vengeance in the third set to complete a 15-6 win and seal the sweep.
USC concludes its opening weekend with a dual against No. 4 Long Beach State (0-2) at 2 p.m. PT on Zuma Beach. The Women of Troy will open their home schedule as hosts to Arizona State, Florida State, and Loyola Marymount at Merle Norman Stadium on Thursday and Friday (March 10-11).
For information on the USC beach volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope, and Snapchat.
No. 1 USC 5, No. 6 UCLA 0
Zuma Beach | Malibu, Calif.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Records: USC (2-1), UCLA (2-1)
1. Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA); 21-19, 27-29, 15-6
2. Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Izzy Carey/Elise Zappia (UCLA); 21-14, 21-17
3. Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Ivey Schmitt/Kamila Tan (UCLA); 21-17, 21-17
4. Jenna Belton/Abril Bustamante (USC) def. Julie Consani/Laurel Weaver (UCLA); 21-14, 21-11
5. Jo Kremer/Zoe Nightingale (USC) def. Karly Drolson/Rachel Inouye (UCLA); 13-21, 21-13, 15-13
Order of finish: 2, 3, 4*, 5, 1
