No. 6 UCLA Drops First Match of 2016

MALIBU, Calif. -- No. 6 UCLA (2-1) battled high winds and the No. 1 ranked team in the country, but ultimately dropped its first contest of the year, 5-0, to USC (2-1) at the Pepperdine Kick Off at Zuma Beach on Sunday, March 6.

USC got three straight-set victories in the middle of the lineup to win the dual. On court two, Sophie Bukovec and Alexa Strange defeated UCLA's tandem of sophomore Elise Zappia and freshman Izzy Carey, 21-14, 21-17. On court three, the Trojan duo of Nicolette Martin and Allie Wheeler beat the Bruin pair of senior Kamila Tan and sophomore Ivey Schmitt, 21-17, 21-17.

The Trojans clinched the match on court four when Jenna Belton and Abril Bustamante defeated UCLA's pair of senior Julie Consani and junior Laurel Weaver, 21-14, 21-11.

The Bruins pushed the Trojans to three sets on courts one and five. On court five, Jo Kremer and Zoe Nightingale defeated the Bruins' senior pair of Karly Drolson and Rachel Inouye, 13-21, 21-13, 15-13. On court one, USC's Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes defeated UCLA's freshman duo of  Nicole McNamara and Megan McNamara, 21-19, 27-29, 15-6.

No. 1 USC 5, No. 6 UCLA 0 - Sunday, March 6, 2016 - Malibu, Calif.
#1 Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA); 21-19, 27-29, 15-6
#2 Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Izzy Carey/Elise Zappia (UCLA); 21-14, 21-17
#3 Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Ivey Schmitt/Kamila Tan (UCLA); 21-17, 21-17
#4 Jenna Belton/Abril Bustamante (USC) def. Julie Consani/Laurel Weaver (UCLA); 21-14, 21-11
#5 Jo Kremer/Zoe Nightingale (USC) def. Karly Drolson/Rachel Inouye (UCLA); 13-21, 21-13, 15-13
Order of finish: 2, 3, 4*, 5, 1