UCLA Bests Florida State 3-1 for NCAA Beach Title

NCAA Beach Championships

• Gulf Shores, Alabama
• May 4-6, 2018
• Tournament Central
• Live Video; ESPN2

After besting Hawaii in a 3-2 affair earlier in the day, the UCLA beach volleyball team stepped on the court just an hour later with the championship on the line against No. 4 Florida State, which had advanced through the championship bracket on Saturday.

After splitting the first two matchups, UCLA cruised to a pair of victories to cap a 3-1 win and give the Bruins their first ever NCAA beach title.

With the change in format for the championship match, Courts 4 and 5 took center stage to start the contest. Florida State took the first set of both matches, only to see UCLA come roaring back in the second. With both courts in a tiebreak, eyes first turned to Court 5 where UCLA’s Izzy Carey and Megan Muret captured a 15-8 win. On Court 4, after trailing 6-2 early, Molly McBain/Brooke Kuhlman rallied for a 15-12 win to even the match.

In flight 2, Savvy Simo/Zana Muno cruised to a 21-19, 21-9 win on Court 3 to put the Bruins up 2-1 in the duel.

Simo and Muno pick up UCLA’s 2nd dual point on court 3!

NATIONAL CHAMP DUAL
#4 Florida State – 1️⃣
#1 UCLA – 2️⃣#NCAABeachVB pic.twitter.com/gAC5QrcAOS

— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) May 6, 2018

Both court 1 and 2 were on championship point when Lily Justine and Sarah Sponcil planted the final kill, winning 21-18, 21-19 over Katie Horton/Hailey Luke, to give the Bruins the trophy.

On court 1, Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara boasted a 22-20, 20-14 lead when the final horn blew.

National Championship Dual Point!

Justine and Sponcil sealed the deal for the Bruins on court 2 to make history for UCLA!#NCAABeachVB pic.twitter.com/8dAEijqiEJ

— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) May 6, 2018

After the match, a five-pair all-tournament team was named.

1’s – Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA)

2’s – Katie Horton/Hailey Luke (FSU)

3’s – Carly Kan/Laurel Weaver (Hawaii)

4’s – Skylar Caputo/Alexis Filippone (Pepperdine)

5’s – Madison Fitzpatrick/Francesca Goncalves (FSU)

Championship #8Clap ?#GoBruins | #ChampionsMadeHere pic.twitter.com/6giAvVvr02

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

No. 1 Seed UCLA def. No. 4 Seed Florida State 3-1

1. Nicole McNamara/Megan McNamara (UCLA) vs. Vanessa Freire/Tory Paranagua (FSU) 22-20, 20-14 DNF
2. Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) vs. Katie Horton/Hailey Luke (FSU) 21-18, 21-19
3. Savvy Simo/Zana Muno (UCLA) Sara Putt/Macy Jerger (FSU) 21-19, 21-9
4. Molly McBain/Brooke Kuhlman (FSU) def. Elise Zappia/Mac May (UCLA) 21-15, 15-21, 15-12
5. Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA) vs. Madison Fitzpatrick/Francesca Goncalves (FSU) 17-21, 24-22, 15-8

Order of Finish: 5, 4, 3, 2*