UCLA sweeps Stanford to win third seaside volleyball championship

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Sally Perez and Maggie Boyd gained the clincher as UCLA swept top-seeded Stanford 3-0 on Sunday to win the Bruins’ third NCAA seaside volleyball championship.

Perez and Boyd wrapped up the Bruins’ first championship since successful back-to-back titles in 2018-19, beating the Cardinal’s Kelly Belardi and Avery Jackson 21-11, 21-19.

Kaley Mathews and Ensley Alden received third-seeded UCLA (33-6) off and operating with a 21-16, 21-11 victory over Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sorra.

Ava Williamson and Jesse Dueck gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead within the closest match of the day, beating Indigo Clarke and Clara Stowell 21-17, 25-23.

The UCLA tandems of Alexa Fernandez and Harper Cooper in addition to Kenzie Brower and Mallory LaBreche have been additionally successful their matches after they turned pointless.

It was the primary championship for UCLA coach Jenny Johnson Jordan, who took the reins in 2023. Stein Metzger led the Bruins to their first two titles. Johnson earned her a hundredth profession win when the Bruins beat No. 2 Texas 3-2 of their semifinal on Saturday.

Stanford (39-4) was aiming for its first championship, advancing to the title match below coach Andrew Fulller with a 3-1 victory over No. 5 Florida State within the semifinals.

UCLA beat No. 2 Texas 3-2 within the different semifinal.

USC has gained six of 10 championships for the reason that occasion started in 2016.

TCU ended a four-year run by the Trojans final season when the Horned Frogs beat Loyola Marymount for the title. The match wasn’t performed in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.