UCLA Beach Volleyball: Florida State Ends Bruins’ Winning Streak, 3-1

The top seeded UCLA Women’s Volleyball team opened the NCAA Tournament this morning with a dual against the Florida International Panthers.

The Bruins made quick work of the Panthers and won the dual, 3-0.

UCLA got their first point from the pair of Elise Zappia and Mac May on court four when Zappia and May beat FIU’s Taija Thomas and Dorina Klinger, 21-15, 21-14, despite the fact that they fell behind 6-1 early in the first set.

The second point of the match came from UCLA’s court one duo of Megan and Nicole McNamara. The McNamara twins swept FIU’s Italian duo of Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin, 21-10, 21-17.

The Bruins clinched the dual win when Zana Muno and Savvy Simo defeated FIU’s pair Katie Friesen and Anabela Sataric in straight sets, 21-16, 21-14, on court three.

Once the third and clinching point was won by the Bruins, play on the remaining two courts was stopped.

Things didn’t go so well in the second match of the day for the Bruins as UCLA lost to fourth-seeded Florida State, 3-1.

From the beginning of this dual, things weren’t going well for the Bruins. The Seminoles took the first set on court 5 where Izzy Carey and Megan Muret were paired for UCLA. The Noles then took the first set on court 3 where Savvy Simo and Zana Muno were matched up for the Bruins.

Over on court one, the McNamara twins got UCLA their first set win of the dual, but FSU managed to win the first sets on court 4 against Elise Zappia and Mac May as well as on court 2 where Lily Justine and Sarah Sponcil were playing for UCLA.

That gave the Bruins very little room for error in the second sets. FSU secured their first point on court 5. Just as the McNamaras wrapped up their match, earning the Bruins what would be their only point of the match, FSU won their second point on court 3.

That left UCLA needing wins on the two remaining courts. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what happened. Zappia and May dropped the second set on court 4 and Florida State won the dual, 3-1, and continues in the winner’s bracket.

The loss ends UCLA’s 31-match winning streak and the Bruins now fall into the loser’s bracket where they will face LSU tomorrow at noon PT.


Go Bruins!