UCLA sand volleyball may have already had two seasons under its belt, but the opening match of the Bruins’ third season still managed to feature several firsts.
Even though the No. 7 Bruins (1-0) opened their first game of the season in a similar fashion to last year, with a win over the Cal State Northridge Matadors (0-1), it wasn’t really a case of déjà vu.
“I think the story of the day is that we had five out of 10 people competing who were freshmen,” said coach Stein Metzger. “Half the team played their first collegiate sand volleyball game ever.”
The five squads that featured in UCLA’s 4-1 win sported mostly new looks, as only the partnership of juniors Rachel Inouye and Karly Drolson was carried over from last year. And it was their veteran leadership that set the tone for the matchup as the junior duo claimed the first point for UCLA with a win in the No. 4 doubles matchup.
“I think that we’re all doing really well for being in new partnerships,” said junior Julie Consani, who won the No. 3 doubles matchup with her partner sophomore Laurel Weaver. “I think we’re all just going to keep growing and getting better together.”
While the Bruins were able to head into this game with a preseason of practices held in a newly-built on-campus facility, their opponents on the other side of the net were facing a similar situation. Thursday’s match was the inaugural match played in the Matador Sand Volleyball Facility, which according to Metzger put a little fire into the Matadors’ play.
“They had a ceremony and everything, and they came out ready to play, to be honest,” Metzger said.
While the winds of change swept through both programs prior to Thursday’s matchup, the resident gusts of Northridge also played a part in the matchup.
“It was very, very windy at Northridge,” said freshman Elise Zappia, who won the No. 2 doubles point with her partner, fifth-year senior Madie Smith. “It’s so important in beach volleyball. The wind is a huge factor and you have to make every touch count, or the wind is going to get you.”
It was a successful first outing for the fledgling UCLA players who managed to acclimatize themselves to the college game and the conditions on the road, but the Bruins said there’s still a lot more room for growth in this young team.
“I think sand volleyball is one of those sports where there’s always something to work on and something always to work towards,” Zappia said. “I think if we just continue to be on this path, by the end of the season we’ll be unstoppable.”