Southen Cal three-peats as national champions , wins 2023 NC beach volleyball title
🏆 Southen Cal three-peats as national champions
Southern Cal adds another title to its dynasty as the Trojans defeat UCLA, 3-2.
After jumping out to a commanding 2-0 lead, USC dropped two straight matches against the Bruins in the No. 1 and No. 5 pairs. Placing the spotlight on the 3s, Trojan twins Audrey and Nicole Nourse took down UCLA's Haley Hallgren and Rileigh Powers in three sets.
THREE-PEATING INTO HISTORY!!! ✌️
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball)
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With the win, USC becomes the first women's sports team in school history to three-peat and the first program in NCAA beach volleyball history to win three in a row. Southern Cal has now won five beach volleyball championships total.
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🐻 The Bruins tie it up, 2-2
UCLA stormed back as the Bruins took matches in the No. 1 and No. 5 pairs to tie scores at 2-2.
In the No. 1 pairs, UCLA's Maggie Boyd and Lexy Denaburg took down Southern Cal's Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple with a quick match win, 21-17 and 21-13. UCLA's No. 5 pair Devon Newberry and Jaden Whitmarsh bested Trojans Olivia Bakos and Gabby Walker in straight sets, 21-19 and 21-18.
With the No. 3 pairs in a third set, today's final is set up to be an instant classic.
Southern Cal goes up 2-0
After splitting the first two sets, USC taking the first one 24-22 and UCLA taking the second 23-21, it came down to set three.
No. 4 pair Madison Shields and Madison White took down Abby Van Winkle and Peri Brennan with a strong 15-9 win to put Southern Cal up 2-0.
The Bruins will have to win out to have a chance at the title as the Trojans need just one more match to win the national championship.
Jenna Johnson and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope give USC 1-0 lead on sweep
USC got the start it wanted in the national championship.
In the fourth pair, Jenna Johnson and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope swept UCLA's duo of Marlie Monserez and Jessie Smith with wins of 22-20 and 21-14.
USC leads the national championship, 1-0.
The second pair matchup of USC's Madison Shields and Madison White vs. UCLA's Abby Van Winkle and Peri Brennan is headed to a third set.
Here's what you need to know for today's national championship
What: No. 1 UCLA meets No. 3 USC for the 2023 NC beach volleyball national championship
When: Sunday, May 7 at 12 p.m. ET
Where: The championship match will be played at Gulf Shores Public Beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
How to watch: The match will be shown live on on ESPN/, with live written coverage on krikya18.com.
Brackets, schedule, scores
The 2023 NC beach volleyball championship is underway at Gulf Shores Public Beach in Gulf Shores, Ala.
➡️ Click or tap here for the interactive bracket | ➡️ Click or tap here for the printable .PDF bracket
Below is the full schedule of play, including TV networks (all EST):
- Wednesday, May 3
- No. 17 Texas A&M Corpus Christi 3, No. 16 UT Martin 0 | Opening round
- Friday, May 5: Round of 16
- Saturday, May 6: Last Round of 16 match; Quarterfinals; Semifinals | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2/ESPN+
- Sunday, May 7: National Championship
- No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 3 USC | 12 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+
The 17-team field was selected on April 30 from 93 NCAA institutions. New this year is an opening-round game before the round of 16, during which No. 17 Texas A&M Corpus Christi defeated UT Martin, 3-0.
NC Beach Volleyball championship history
Here are the past champions:
| YEAR | CHAMPION | COACH | SCORE | RUNNER-UP | SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Southern California | Dain Blanton | 3-1 | Florida State | Gulf Shores, Ala. |
| 2021 | Southern California | Dain Blanton | 3-1 | UCLA | Gulf Shores, Ala. |
| 2020 | Canceled due to Covid-19 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2019 | UCLA | Stein Metzger | 3-0 | Southern California | Gulf Shores, Ala. |
| 2018 | UCLA | Stein Metzger | 3-1 | Florida State | Gulf Shores, Ala. |
| 2017 | Southern California | Anna Collier | 3-2 | Pepperdine | Gulf Shores, Ala. |
| 2016 | Southern California | Anna Collier | 3-0 | Florida State | Gulf Shores, Ala. |