Denaburg, Van Winkle Named National Pair of the Week

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LEXINGTON, Ky. -- UCLA sophomore Lexy Denaburg (Merritt Island, Fla.) and junior Abby Van Winkle (San Clemente, Calif.) have been named the AVCA/CBVB Pair of the Week as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) today.

Denaburg and Van Winkle, who were paired together for the first time in the 2022 season and in their careers last week, went 4-0 without dropping a set on court one after just three practices together.

All four victories were against ranked teams and included a dual-clinching win over No. 1 USC (Mar. 5). The duo defeated the Trojans' 2020 Olympian Tina Graudina and Hailey Harward, 21-17, 21-17, in their very first match together.

They also completed the Bruins' 5-0 sweep of No. 14 Long Beach State with a 21-13, 21-18 win over Skyler Germann and Alice Pratesi.

The UCLA tandem also added straight-set wins the next day on court one over No. 7 Grand Canyon's Anaya Evans and Jess Vastine (21-15 and 21-16) and over No. 11 Cal Poly's Tia Miric and Ella Connor (21-17 and 21-19).

This is the first national weekly award for both Denaburg and Van Winkle.

RECAP
March 5 - def. Tina Graudina/Hailey Harward (No. 1 USC), 21-17, 21-17
March 5 - def. Skyler Germann/Alice Pratesi (No. 14 Long Beach State), 21-13, 21-18
March 6 - def. Anaya Evans/Jess Vastine (No. 7 Grand Canyon), 21-15, 21-16
March 6 - def. Ella Connor/Tia Miric (No. 11 Cal Poly), 21-17, 21-19

AVCA/CBVB NATIONAL PAIRS OF THE WEEK
Week ending Feb. 27 - Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno, TCU
Week ending Mar. 6 - Lexy Denaburg and Abby Van Winkle, UCLA