USC Beach Volleyball Downs Ducks to Advance at Pac-12 Championship
LOS ANGELES – The top-seeded and No. 1-ranked USC beach volleyball team (24-2) flew by eighth-seeded Oregon (8-10) with a 3-0 win in the first round of the Pac-12 Championship at Mapes Beach on Thursday, April 29.
The Women of Troy improved to 6-0 all-time against the Ducks and advance to face fourth-seeded and ninth-ranked Stanford (21-9) in the winner's bracket semifinal set for 1:15 p.m. PT on Friday (April 30). The Cardinal defeated fifth-seed California (14-12) by a 3-2 count.
USC improved to 16-3 in duals at the Pac-12 Championship and to 67-13 in individual matches as second-year head coach Dain Blanton collected his 30th career win (30-7 overall). The Trojans also go to 68-13 all-time against Pac-12 opponents.
USC's first dual point came from the No. 4 position where graduate Joy Dennis became the ninth Trojan in program history to record 100 career wins. She is now 100-56 all-time after she and freshman Delaynie Maple took down Ashley Schroeder and Bea Wetton in straight sets, 21-12, 21-10, for their 11th straight win as a pair.
The Trojans went in front, 2-0, in the dual with a win at court two where graduate Julia Scoles and senior Sammy Slater flew threw a 21-9, 21-9 win over Josie Cole and Anastasia Lima. It was the 10th win of the year for the Scoles-Slater pairing. The clinching point went up after a 21-9, 21-10 win at the top court by All-American junior Tina Graudina and freshman Megan Kraft.
In a tight race to the finish, sophomore twins Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse had Delaney Hopen and Savannah Siegrist on the ropes at the fifth court, 21-13, 20-8, when play was suspended. At the No. 3 position, senior Haley Hallgren and graduate Hailey Harward were up, 21-17, 14-7, on Zoe Almanza and Vivian Donovan when play stopped.
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.
[1] No. 1 USC def. [8] Oregon, 3-0
2021 Pac-12 Championship • First Round
Mapes Beach • Los Angeles, Calif.
Thursday, April 29, 2021
RECORDS: USC (24-2), Oregon (8-10)
1. Tina GRAUDINA/Megan KRAFT (USC) def. Madelyn LaFOLLETTE/Carly WALLACE (ORE); 21-9, 21-10
2. Julia SCOLES/Sammy SLATER (USC) def. Josie COLE/Anastasia LIMA (ORE); 21-9, 21-9
3. Haley HALLGREN/Hailey HARWARD (USC) vs. Zoe ALMANZA/Vivian DONOVAN (ORE); 21-17, 14-7 susp.
4. Joy DENNIS/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Ashley SCHROEDER/Bea WETTON (ORE); 21-12, 21-10
5. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) vs. Delaney HOPEN/Savannah SIEGRIST (ORE); 21-13, 20-8 susp.
Order of finish: 4, 2, 1*