Women’s soccer coaches look to incoming freshmen to bring depth to the field

Nine Bruins will be added to a UCLA women’s soccer roster that is going to graduate just two seniors. Three forwards, three midfielders, two defenders and a goalkeeper – seven of which have played on youth national teams – make up the Bruins’ incoming freshman class. They will join a team that made the NCAA […]

Savvy Simo talks intersection of athletic success and mental well-being

Thirteen UCLA student-athletes spoke out about mental health over a month ago. Savvy Simo wasn’t one of them. But the junior indoor and beach volleyball player said she knew UCLA Athletics was releasing a video March 14 that allowed student-athletes to tell their stories. “I didn’t go because, at the time, I was very overwhelmed […]

Bruins bid farewell to tremendous group of seniors, prepare returning players to lead

GULF SHORES, Ala. — After being the top-ranked team for the entire regular season, the Bruins entered the NCAA championship as the No. 2 seed. But it didn’t matter. UCLA beach volleyball (35-3) upset No. 1 seed USC (32-6) in the NCAA championship final Sunday afternoon, sweeping the Trojans 3-0 to earn the Bruins’ second […]

Beach volleyball claims second straight NCAA title, UCLA’s 117th

This post was updated May 5 at 2:23 p.m. GULF SHORES, Ala. — Abby Van Winkle crouched down and slammed the sand after the ball hit the ground. “I knew I was going to stuff (USC’s Alexandra Poletto),” Van Winkle said. “I needed to take revenge on her, because I got blocked a few times.” Senior […]

Beach volleyball’s sweep of LSU sends UCLA to NCAA championship final

GULF SHORES, Ala. — The Bruins were dancing on tables at the NCAA banquet Thursday – and they’re still dancing. No. 2 seed UCLA beach volleyball (34-3) swept No. 5 seed LSU (31-7) 3-0 on Saturday morning to advance to Sunday’s NCAA championship final. The Bruins put up all three dual points within 90 seconds […]

Beach volleyball sweeps Florida State in second round of NCAA championship

GULF SHORES, Ala. — All five courts went to three sets – and the dual was decided by a pair that hadn’t gone to three since exactly a month ago. A block by senior Izzy Carey on court five helped No. 2 seed UCLA beach volleyball (33-3) sweep No. 3 seed Florida State (29-6) 3-0 […]

UCLA opens NCAA beach volleyball championship with win over Hawai’i

GULF SHORES, Ala. — It was a race to the finish. No. 2 seed UCLA beach volleyball (32-3) broke a 2-2 tie to defeat No. 7 seed Hawai’i (26-10) in the first round of the NCAA championship in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on Friday morning. Three courts went to simultaneous third sets, with both teams needing to […]