USC Beach Volleyball Falls to Lions to End NCAA Run
May 03, 2025 | Women's Beach Volleyball
The Trojans got a win at the No. 4 position from Ella Larkin and Delaney Karl but were eliminated in the quarterfinals
GULF SHORES, Ala. – The fifth-seeded USC beach volleyball team (27-11) fell to fourth-seeded Loyola Marymount (37-6) by a 3-1 count in the quarterfinals of the NCAA championship in front of the Hangout at Gulf Shores Public Beach on Saturday, May 3.
The Lions move into the semifinals to face top-seeded UCLA in this afternoon's semifinal duals. The Women of Troy end their postseason run in a fifth-place tie and fall to 32-2 in 34 meetings with LMU. USC goes to 39-9 in the state of Alabama which now includes a 32-5 mark in NCAA tournament duals; 18-1 under sixth-year head coach Dain Blanton.
LMU won first sets at all five positions, but the Trojans forced third sets at three courts. Still, the Lions scored the first two points of the dual on straight-set finishes at Nos. 3 and 5. At court three, Lisa Luini and Abbey Thorup defeated graduate Maya Gessner and junior Mabyn Thomas, 21-17, 21-18, for the first point.
The Lions went on top, 2-0, when Giuliana Poletti Corrales and Tanon Rosenthal went 22-20, 21-16 over the Trojans' sophomore duo of Madison Goellner and Kaileigh Truslow at the No. 5 position.
The Trojans—in third sets at the other positions—earned a dual point from junior Delaney Karl and graduate Ella Larkin as the duo defeated Magdalena Rabitsch and Isabelle Reffel, 15-21, 21-14, 15-9. Seconds later, Anna Pelloia and Michelle Shaffer ended the Trojans' season with a 21-13, 14-21, 15-7 win at the top court in a win over sophomore Zoey Henson and junior Madison White.
With the dual decided, play was stopped at the No. 2 position. There, freshman Kennedy Coakley and sophomore Ashley Pater dropped a 21-19 decision to Chloe Hooker and Vilhelmiina Prihti in the first set but won the second in dominant fashion, 21-12. The Lions' twos held a 7-2 lead in set three when play was halted.
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 X @USCBeach.
[4] No. 4 Loyola Marymount def. [5] No. 5 USC, 3-1
NCAA Championship · Quarterfinal
Gulf Shores Public Beach · Gulf Shores, Ala.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
RECORDS: USC (27-11), Loyola Marymount (37-6)
1. Anna PELLOIA/Michelle SHAFFER (LMU) def. Zoey HENSON/Madison WHITE (USC); 21-13, 14-21, 15-7
2. Kennedy COAKLEY/Ashley PATER (USC) vs. Chloe HOOKER/Vilhelmiina PRIHTI (LMU); 19-21, 21-12, 2-7 DNF
3. Lisa LUINI/Abbey THORUP (LMU) def. Maya GESSNER/Mabyn THOMAS (USC); 21-17, 21-18
4. Delaney KARL/Ella LARKIN (USC) def. Magdalena RABITSCH/Isabelle REFFEL (LMU); 15-21, 21-14, 15-9
5. Giuliana POLETTI CORRALES/Tanon ROSENTHAL (LMU) def. Madison GOELLNER/Kaileigh TRUSLOW (USC); 22-20, 21-16
Order of finish: 3, 5, 4, 1*
The Lions move into the semifinals to face top-seeded UCLA in this afternoon's semifinal duals. The Women of Troy end their postseason run in a fifth-place tie and fall to 32-2 in 34 meetings with LMU. USC goes to 39-9 in the state of Alabama which now includes a 32-5 mark in NCAA tournament duals; 18-1 under sixth-year head coach Dain Blanton.
LMU won first sets at all five positions, but the Trojans forced third sets at three courts. Still, the Lions scored the first two points of the dual on straight-set finishes at Nos. 3 and 5. At court three, Lisa Luini and Abbey Thorup defeated graduate Maya Gessner and junior Mabyn Thomas, 21-17, 21-18, for the first point.
The Lions went on top, 2-0, when Giuliana Poletti Corrales and Tanon Rosenthal went 22-20, 21-16 over the Trojans' sophomore duo of Madison Goellner and Kaileigh Truslow at the No. 5 position.
The Trojans—in third sets at the other positions—earned a dual point from junior Delaney Karl and graduate Ella Larkin as the duo defeated Magdalena Rabitsch and Isabelle Reffel, 15-21, 21-14, 15-9. Seconds later, Anna Pelloia and Michelle Shaffer ended the Trojans' season with a 21-13, 14-21, 15-7 win at the top court in a win over sophomore Zoey Henson and junior Madison White.
With the dual decided, play was stopped at the No. 2 position. There, freshman Kennedy Coakley and sophomore Ashley Pater dropped a 21-19 decision to Chloe Hooker and Vilhelmiina Prihti in the first set but won the second in dominant fashion, 21-12. The Lions' twos held a 7-2 lead in set three when play was halted.
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 X @USCBeach.
[4] No. 4 Loyola Marymount def. [5] No. 5 USC, 3-1
NCAA Championship · Quarterfinal
Gulf Shores Public Beach · Gulf Shores, Ala.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
RECORDS: USC (27-11), Loyola Marymount (37-6)
1. Anna PELLOIA/Michelle SHAFFER (LMU) def. Zoey HENSON/Madison WHITE (USC); 21-13, 14-21, 15-7
2. Kennedy COAKLEY/Ashley PATER (USC) vs. Chloe HOOKER/Vilhelmiina PRIHTI (LMU); 19-21, 21-12, 2-7 DNF
3. Lisa LUINI/Abbey THORUP (LMU) def. Maya GESSNER/Mabyn THOMAS (USC); 21-17, 21-18
4. Delaney KARL/Ella LARKIN (USC) def. Magdalena RABITSCH/Isabelle REFFEL (LMU); 15-21, 21-14, 15-9
5. Giuliana POLETTI CORRALES/Tanon ROSENTHAL (LMU) def. Madison GOELLNER/Kaileigh TRUSLOW (USC); 22-20, 21-16
Order of finish: 3, 5, 4, 1*
Players Mentioned
Beach Volleyball - USC 1, LMU 3: Highlights (5/3/25)
Saturday, May 03
Beach Volleyball - USC 3, North Florida 0: Highlights (5/2/25)
Friday, May 02
USC Beach's Madison White | Trojans Live 4.14.25
Monday, April 14
Beach Volleyball - USC 3, Cal Poly 2: Highlights (4/11/25)
Friday, April 11