No. 1 UCLA Rallies to Defeat No. 13 Georgia State, 3-2

SOCIAL MEDIA: BeachVB on Twitter | BeachVB on Facebook | BeachVB on Instagram

GULF SHORES, Ala. -- No. 1 UCLA (12-0) remained undefeated on the year with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over No. 13 Georgia State (10-6) in the Bruins' third dual of the March to May event at Gulf Beach Place. UCLA improved to 2-0 all-time against the Panthers.

Graduate transfer Marlie Monserez and freshman Jessie Smith moved up to court four to defeat GSU's twin pairing of Bella Ferary and Angel Ferary, 21-17, 21-18, putting the Bruins on the board first.

Then the Panthers' Becky Treshman and Chloee Kleespies outlasted UCLA's Pani Napoleon and Tessa Van Winkle, 18-21, 21-18, 18-16, on court five to tie the dual at 1-1.

UCLA quickly regained the lead when Devon Newberry and Jaden Whitmarsh moved up to court two and posted an easy 21-16, 21-15 win over Yasmine Kuck and Kayla Whetstone.

But Georgia State answered to tie the dual at 2-2 with a straight-set win on court three over UCLA's Maggie Walters and Katie Hashman, 21-19, 21-17. It was only the second time the Bruin pair had seen action this season and the first since posting a straight-set win over Saint Mary's on court three in the opening weekend of play.

The Bruins were able to complete the comeback win behind a big rally on court one, where Lexy Denaburg and Abby Van Winkle were down 12-9 in the third set. Court one was the only court that didn't feature a new Bruin pair from UCLA's traditional starting lineup. Turns out experience was key as the Bruin tandem rallied to defeat GSU's Kelly Dorn and Elise Saga, 24-26, 21-12, 18-16, to clinch the dual victory.

The Bruins will continue the March to May event later today against No. 20 Tulane (3:00 p.m. PT).

No. 1 UCLA def. No. 13 Georgia State, 3-2
Gulf Beach Place • Gulf Shores, Ala.
Saturday, Mar. 19, 2022 • 7:00 AM PT
Records: UCLA (12-0), GSU (10-6)
1. Lexy Denaburg/Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) def. Kelly Dorn/Elise Saga (GSU) 24-26, 21-12, 18-16
2. Devon Newberry/Jaden Whitmarsh (UCLA) def. Yasmine Kuck/Kayla Whetstone (GSU) 21-16, 21-15
3. Eden Hawes/Maddy Delmonte (GSU) def. Maggie Walters/Katie Hashman (UCLA) 21-19, 21-17
4. Marlie Monserez/Jessie Smith (UCLA) def. Bella Ferary/Angel Ferary (GSU) 21-17, 21-18
5. Becky Treshman/Chloee Kleespies (GSU) def. Pani Napoleon/Tessa Van Winkle (UCLA) 18-21, 21-18, 18-16
Order of finish: 4, 5, 2, 3, 1*