The No. 1-ranked USC beach volleyball team (17-0) put a 5-0 win in the books over California (8-4) at Merle Norman Stadium on Tuesday, March 28, to extend its record-winning streak to 47 straight duals. The Women of Troy also pushed their home winning streak to 10 straight on home sand.
The Trojans got off to a fast start when sophomore Abril Bustamante and freshman Joy Dennis defeated Nicole Anderson and Iya Lindahl, 21-18, 21-12, at the No. 4 position. At the bottom of the lineup, juniors Jenna Belton and Jo Kremer posted a 21-17, 21-18 win over Bridget Gustafson and Teya Neff for their fifth straight dual victory.
The clinching point came from court three where seniors Sophie Bukovec and Allie Wheeler dispatched of Bryce Bark and Camille Stepanof, 21-14, 21-6. At the top court, seniors Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes put up a fourth dual point with a 21-11, 21-6 win over Jessica Gaffney and Mia Merino for their 92nd straight victory.
USC’s fifth point for the sweep wasn’t without its tense moments, but junior Terese Cannon and senior Nicolette Martin fought off Cal’s No. 2 pair of Grace Campbell and Olivia Rodberg, 21-14, 22-20, to complete the sweep. In a non-counting match, sophomore Katrina Kernochan and freshman Lainy Thomas took down Madison Dueck and Katie Regalia, 21-9, 21-13.
In a triple bracket pairs’ tournament, Claes and Hughes won two matches to take the gold title and extended their winning streak to 94 consecutive matches. Belton and Kremer won a pair of matches to claim the bronze title. Bustamante and Dennis won their semifinal match and Cannon and Martin won their semifinal in the silver bracket, but the two pairs did not play a final.
Up next, the Women of Troy head to Northern California for duals in the San Francisco Invitational and the Monterey Invitational. USC faces USF (0-9) on Saturday (April 1) at Main Beach in Santa Cruz, Calif., at 9 a.m. PT and then plays Saint Mary’s College in a pairs’ tournament following the dual as part of the San Francisco Invitational. On Sunday (April 2), the Trojans face SMC (10-3) at9:30 a.m. on Del Monte Beach in Monterey and then finish the weekend against San Jose State (5-5) at noon in the Monterey Invitational.
For more information on the two-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visitUSCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, Instagram, and Snapchat.
No. 1 USC def. California, 5-0
Merle Norman Stadium | Los Angeles, Calif.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Records: USC (17-0), California (8-4)
1. Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Jessica Gaffney/Mia Merino (CAL); 21-11, 21-6
2. Terese Cannon/Nicolette Martin (USC) def. Grace Campbell/Olivia Rodberg (CAL); 21-14, 22-20
3. Sophie Bukovec/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Bryce Bark/Camille Stepanof (CAL); 21-14, 21-6
4. Abril Bustamante/Joy Dennis (USC) def. Nicole Anderson/Iya Lindahl (CAL); 21-18, 21-12
5. Jenna Belton/Jo Kremer (USC) def. Bridget Gustafson/Teya Neff (CAL); 21-17, 21-18
Exh: Katrina Kernochan/Lainy Thomas (USC) def. Madison Dueck/Katie Regalia (CAL); 21-9, 21-13
Order of finish: 4, 5, 3*, 1, 2
GOLD BRACKET
Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Grace Campbell/Olivia Rodberg (CAL); 21-8, 21-4
Sophie Bukovec/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Jessica Gaffney/Mia Merino (CAL); 21-17, 21-8
Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Sophie Bukovec/Allie Wheeler (USC); 21-18, 21-12
SILVER BRACKET
Terese Cannon/Nicolette Martin (USC) def. Nicole Anderson/Iya Lindahl (CAL); 21-17, 21-14
Abril Bustamante/Joy Dennis (USC) def. Bryce Bark/Camille Stepanof (CAL); 21-8, 21-16
Terese Cannon/Nicolette Martin (USC) vs. Abril Bustamante/Joy Dennis (USC); DNP
BRONZE BRACKET
Katrina Kernochan/Lainy Thomas (USC) def. Bridget Gustafson/Teya Neff (CAL); 21-18, 21-14
Jenna Belton/Jo Kremer (USC) def. Madison Dueck/Katie Regalia (CAL); 21-14, 21-18
Jenna Belton/Jo Kremer (USC) def. Katrina Kernochan/Lainy Thomas (CAL); 21-15, 21-17
News courtesy of USC Athletics.
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