#1 UCLA Tops #3 Hawaii for Shot at ‘Noles and the NCAA Title

NCAA BEACH CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Gulf Shores, Alabama
• May 4-6, 2018
• Tournament Central

The #1-seeded UCLA Bruins had to do it the hard way, but they’ve fought back to earn a shot at the championship in a winner-take-all affair against undefeated #4 seed Florida State.

• #1 UCLA def. #3 Hawaii 3-2

Hawaii came up with the first point of the dual when #4 pair Amy Ozeel/Ari Homayun won their match in straight sets. UCLA answered with a win at the #5 line where Izzy Carey/Megan Muret beat Hawaii’s #5s in straight sets, 21-14, 21-12.

Last point of #5:

And UCLA answers…

#3 Hawaii – 1️⃣
#1 UCLA – 1️⃣#NCAABeachVB pic.twitter.com/0IvkfoNjlf

— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) May 6, 2018

But then the focus shifted to the top lines, where we knew the mega-matchups were coming, and where Hawaii’s strengths have been all year long. UCLA’s indominable McNamara twins, who have now won all 8 sets they’ve played in at this year’s championship

Last point of #1:

No. 1 UCLA leads No. 3 Hawai’i 2-1! #GoBruins #GoBeyondGreat #NCAABeachVB pic.twitter.com/w1byNw3ASm

— UCLA Beach VB (@uclabeachvb) May 6, 2018

Hawaii would not yet go away: Carly Kan and Laurel Weaver, who have been Hawaii’s best team this season with a 37-4 record including a perfect 4-0 record this weekend, won a 3-setter to tie the match at 2 wins each.

Moments later, UCLA’s #2 line Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil finished off a 3-set win (21-19, 25-23, 15-11) over Hawaii to send their team to the title. The victory marked UCLA’s 39th dual win in 2018, which is a new program record.

The point that clinched the match:

The UCLA Bruins advance to their first ever Championship Dual after an epic tangle in the sand with Hawaii!#NCAABeachVB pic.twitter.com/WdPeFWsFdv

— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) May 6, 2018

Championship Dual Details:

• 2PM Eastern Time
• #1 UCLA vs. #4 Florida State
• Live Streaming
• Television: ESPN

UCLA has won the 2 previous meetings this year, with a 3-2 victory on March 11th and a 4-1 win on March 30th, but Florida State has been a different team thiis week, so the match is to be considered sufficiently ‘wide open.’ Especially given that Florida State has had Sunday to rest in the air conditioning while UCLA was out playing in the sun just an hour before the championship match.