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17 & Counting: UCLA Beach Volleyball Aims to Extend Winning Streak

The Bruins host Cal Poly and Loyola Marymount in a Pac-12 televised doubleheader this afternoon.

By Bruinette88
@UCLABeachVB

#3 UCLA Beach Volleyball (19-2)

Opponent 1: Cal Poly (10-10)

When: 12:00 PM PT, Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Opponent 2: Loyola Marymount (7-8)

When: 3:00 PM PT, Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Where: Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, Los Angeles, CA

Video: Pac-12 Network Game 1 | Game 2

Official Match Preview

If you don't live in Southern California and have been waiting for a chance to watch the third-ranked Bruins in action, you don't have to wait any longer. The Pac-12 Networks will be televising both of UCLA's matches today at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center.

The Bruins' first opponent of the afternoon is Cal Poly (10-10). UCLA has already played the Mustangs in 2017, but that match dates back to the opening day of the season at Pismo Beach. On that occasion, the Bruins swept the competition on the top four courts with only the freshman duo of Chanti Holroyd and Lily Justine dropping a point.

The Mustangs are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball poll, but there is a big difference between the nation's top 5 teams and those teams outside the top-15.

First serve against Cal Poly is scheduled for noon.

Three hours later, UCLA will play their second match of the day against Loyola Marymount (7-8). Like the Mustangs, the Lions are receiving votes in the most recent AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball poll, but LMU has won just one point out of 25 against top-10 teams this season.

UCLA enters today's competition with a 17-game winning streak. Since the Bruins lost to #1 Southern Cal and #2 Pepperdine on the second weekend of the season, they have remained unbeaten for a month. Their 17-game run of victories includes a handful of good wins over top-10 teams. The most impressive of those victories were a pair of wins over #4 Florida State and a 3-2 triumph over #5 Long Beach State.

UCLA is very likely to continue with the pairings that have led to sustained success over the past four weeks. Coach Metzger will again have sophomores Megan and Nicole McNamara on court 1, while freshman Madi Yeomans will team up with senior Kamila Tan on court 2. On court 3, junior Elise Zappia will be paired with freshman Torrey Van Winden, and court 4 will feature the duo of senior Jordan Anderson and sophomore Izzy Carey. Finally, the Bruins' freshman pair of Lily Justine and Chanti Holroyd will likely get the job of trying to earn a point on court 5.

It's important to note how young Coach Metzger's squad is. Of the ten players likely to be on court today, only three are upperclassmen. That's a good sign for the future of UCLA's beach volleyball program.

The Bruins will be aiming for their 18th and 19th straight wins today. Tune in to the Pac-12 Network this afternoon for the rare opportunity to watch UCLA's outstanding beach volleyball team in action.

Go BRUINS!

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