No. 1 USC Beach Volleyball Beats Utes in 5-0 Sweep

TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 1-ranked USC beach volleyball team (12-0) defeated Utah (2-11) in straight sets, 5-0, at Bear Down Beach to conclude their run at the Pac-12 South Invitational on Saturday, March 27.
 
The Trojans' 12-dual winning streak matches the fourth longest in program history (April 6-27, 2019). USC improved to 4-0 in all-time meetings with the Utes and went to 21-1 all-time in duals played in the state of Arizona.
 
USC got its first dual point from the No. 5 position where sophomore twins Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse went quickly for a 21-4, 21-10 win over Abby Cramer and Kaiya Liwanag. The victory keeps the sisters undefeated (12-0) on the season and extends their overall win streak to 20 consecutive matches with only three other Trojan pairs with longer streaks all-time.
 
The Trojans went in front, 2-0, with a win at court four where graduate Joy Dennis and sophomore Harper Hallgren teamed up to get a 21-3, 21-11 win over Macy Rideout and Joana Saucedo Mondragon. Dennis and Hallgren previously played 10 matches together in 2020.
 
The clinching point came from the top court as graduate Julia Scoles and senior Sammy Slater completed a 21-11, 21-7 win against Marissa Koch and Sage Patchell. USC added a fourth point from the No. 2 spot when graduate Hailey Harward and freshman Megan Kraft claimed a 21-7, 21-13 win over Camille Lee and Keana Smalls.
 
USC's 5-0 sweep went into the books when junior Mollie Ebertin and senior Haley Hallgren locked up a 21-21, 21-17 win against Grace Andrews and Olivia Teerlink at the No. 3 position.
 
The Trojans return to Southern California for and prepare to host a pair of East Coast powers for four duals at Merle Norman Stadium next weekend. USC meets No. 2 Florida State (19-0) on Saturday (April 3) at 10:30 a.m. PT and 1 p.m. On Sunday (April 4) the Trojans welcome No. 3 LSU (16-2) for two duals at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. All four duals are scheduled to be streamed on USC's streaming platform.
 
NOTE: All home USC beach volleyball competitions at Merle Norman Stadium will be conducted in accordance with the Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee health and safety recommendations and guidelines, available at Pac-12.com/health.
 
For more information on the three-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
 
No. 1 USC def. Utah, 5-0
Pac-12 South Invitational
Bear Down Beach • Tucson, Ariz.
Saturday, March 27, 2021
RECORDS: USC (12-0), Utah (2-11)
1. Julia SCOLES/Sammy SLATER (USC) def. Marissa KOCH/Sage PATCHELL (UTAH); 21-11, 21-7
2. Hailey HARWARD/Megan KRAFT (USC) def. Camille LEE/Keana SMALLS (UTAH); 21-7, 21-13
3. Mollie EBERTIN/Haley HALLGREN (USC) def. Grace ANDREWS/Olivia TEERLINK (UTAH); 21-12, 21-17
4. Joy DENNIS/Harper HALLGREN (USC) def. Macy RIDEOUT/Joana SAUCEDO MONDRAGON (UTAH); 21-3, 21-11
5. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) def. Abby CRAMER/Kaiya LIWANAG (UTAH); 21-4, 21-10
Order of finish: 5, 4, 1*, 2, 3