McNamara twins compete in first professional beach volleyball tournament

The McNamara sisters kissed the Bruins’ first beach volleyball NCAA trophy, then hopped on an 18-hour flight to compete in their first professional tournament. “Playing in high-pressure games halfway across the world was just a great experience,” said junior Nicole McNamara. Nicole McNamara and her twin Megan travelled to their first FIVB Beach Volleyball World […]

UCLA beach volleyball brings home NCAA title after mini golf outing

The UCLA beach volleyball team received a group text Friday night after falling to Florida State on opening day of the NCAA championship weekend. “Go shower,” coach Stein Metzger wrote. “Then stand by for the team plans tonight.” The team had just seen its 31-match win streak dissipate – but rather than watching scout videos […]

Beach volleyball defeats Florida State, gains program’s first NCAA title

In 2007, Stein Metzger and his partner battled through eight-straight matches in the elimination bracket to win the Association of Volleyball Professionals beach volleyball title. Fast forward 11 years – Metzger has now done it as a coach. “In fact, (volunteer assistant) coach (Jeff) Alzina and I were talking about it, and I said that […]

Beach volleyball defeats Hawai’i, advances to NCAA championship dual

The band played its fight song. The players sang along. For the first time in program history, the Bruins will play for a national title. No. 1-seeded UCLA beach volleyball (39-4) survived No. 3-seeded Hawaii (37-5) with a 3-2 victory to advance to the NCAA championship dual. On court three, sophomore Savvy Simo and junior […]

Beach volleyball leaps closer to NCAA championship title with victory over USC

The Bruins’ senior captain kept their season alive – except she didn’t even know it. Elise Zappia floated a cut shot over USC’s blocker to clinch the dual for the Bruins. But the senior told her teammates she thought the victory was just to take a 2-1 lead. No. 1-seeded UCLA beach volleyball (38-4) battled […]

UCLA beach volleyball defeats LSU, proceeds to take on USC

The Bruins aren’t done yet. No. 1-seeded UCLA beach volleyball (37-4) dominated No. 7-seeded LSU (27-14) 3-0 in its first dual of the contenders bracket Saturday, keeping its NCAA title hope alive. On court two, sophomore Lily Justine served an ace in the gap of LSU to win the match 21-10 and 21-8. Justine and […]

Beach volleyball falls to Florida State in NCAAs, enters elimination bracket

Last season, the Seminoles knocked the Bruins out in the NCAA championship for the second straight year. That same script played out again. No. 1-seeded UCLA beach volleyball (36-4) fell to No. 4-seeded Florida State (32-6) 3-1 in the second round of the NCAA championship, but the Bruins’ chances at a national title are still […]