No. 1 UCLA Solves Zuma Beach Riddle

Recap, photo courtesy of UCLA

MALIBU, Calif. -- No. 1 UCLA entered Wednesday's contest having never tasted victory at Zuma Beach, falling at Pepperdine twice in its history. But on a rainy day in Malibu, Calif., the Bruins pulled off two feats never before accomplished, a win at Pepperdine with a 5-0 sweep without dropping a set, marking the first time in Pepperdine's storied history that the Waves had ever been swept 5-0 (had previously been defeated 3-0 in NCAA Championship play). With the win, the Bruins improved to 10-0 on the year with their second win over the Waves in 2019 and their eighth sweep of the season. The Waves dropped to 6-2 on the year with both losses coming at the hands of the Bruins.

The relatively new pairing of sophomore Lea Monkhouse and junior Savvy Simo improved to 4-0 on the year on court four, defeating the Waves' Jenna Tunnell and Skylar Caputo, 21-17, 21-17.

The reigning AVCA/CollegeBeachVB.com National Pair of the Week, junior Lily Justine and senior Sarah Sponcil, remained undefeated on the year at 10-0, putting the Bruins up 2-0  with a straight-set win over Pepperdine's Deahna Kraft and Gigi Hernandez on court two, 21-17, 21-18.

Another new pairing of freshman Lindsey Sparks and senior Izzy Carey remained undefeated at 4-0, clinching the dual victory on court five with a dominant win over the Waves' Nikki Lyons and Katie Gavin, 21-11, 21-10.

The Bruins' undefeated pair of senior Zana Muno and freshman Abby Van Winkle (9-0) gave UCLA a 4-0 advantage with a straight-set win over Pepperdine's Alexis Filippone and Maddie Dilfer, 21-15, 21-18.

Seniors Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara completed the sweep with a sweep of their own on court one over the Waves' Heidi Dyer and Brook Bauer, 21-15, 21-16.

In exhibition play on court six, pairing for the first time were sophomores Mac May and Megan Muret. The Bruin duo rallied to defeat Pepperdine's Melanie Paul and Simone Priebe in a three-set thriller, 17-21, 21-10, 15-8.

The Bruins return to action this weekend when they host the East Meets West Challenge at Manhattan Beach Pier on March 9-10. The Bruins will face four nationally-ranked teams, beginning on Saturday with No. 6 LSU at 10:30 a.m. PT and then No. 9 FIU at 12:30 p.m. PT. Then on Sunday, UCLA will face No. 4 FSU at Noon and No. 19 TCU at 4:00 p.m. PT.

No. 1 UCLA def. No. 3 Pepperdine, 5-0
Zuma Beach • Malibu, Calif.
Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2019
Records: UCLA (10-0), PEPP (6-2)
1. Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA) def. Heidi Dyer/Brook Bauer (PEPP); 21-15, 21-16
2. Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) def. Deahna Kraft/Gigi Hernandez (PEPP); 21-17, 21-18
3. Abby Van Winkle/Zana Muno (UCLA) def. Alexis Filippone/Maddie Dilfer (PEPP); 21-15, 21-18
4. Savvy Simo/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA) def. Jenna Tunnell/Skylar Caputo (PEPP); 21-17, 21-17
5. Lindsey Sparks/Izzy Carey (UCLA) def. Nikki Lyons/Katie Gavin (PEPP); 21-11, 21-10
Exh. Megan Muret/Mac May (UCLA) def. Melanie Paul/Simone Priebe (PEPP); 17-21, 21-10, 15-8
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5*, 3, 1