No. 1 UCLA Remains Undefeated with Two More Wins on Sunday

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GULF SHORES, Ala. -- No. 1 UCLA (15-0) remained undefeated on the year with a 5-0 sweep of UAB (5-14) and a 4-1 win over No. 5 LSU (16-2) in the last day of competition at the March to May event at Gulf Beach Place. UCLA improved to 1-0 all-time against the Blazers and 12-2 with its fourth-straight win over the Tigers.

In the morning dual against UAB, redshirt junior transfer Pani Napoleon and redshirt freshman Tessa Van Winkle won their second-consecutive match on court five when they beat the Blazers' Naomi Ortiz and Jessica Twilley, 21-14, 21-17, to put UCLA up 1-0.

Then freshman Jessie Smith and graduate transfer Marlie Monserez took down Jessica Ennis and Ella Alexander in straight sets on court four, 21-15, 21-17, to put UCLA up 2-0.

UCLA clinched the dual on court two when sophomore Devon Newberry and redshirt sophomore Jaden Whitmarsh defeated UAB's Arden Copping and Emma Andraka, 25-23, 21-11.

The Bruins' freshman duo of Natalie Myszkowski and Sophie Moore remained undefeated as they moved up to court three and rallied to defeat Dylynn Otte and Jenna Gathright, 18-21, 21-15, 20-18.

Senior Lea Monkhouse and sophomore Rileigh Powers moved up to court one and held on to win a close three-set match over Rachel Tam and Adriana Pereira, 21-18, 18-21, 15-13.

In the afternoon dual against LSU, the Tigers' Grace Seits and Ellie Shank got on the board first with a tough 21-19, 21-19 win on court five over UCLA's Smith and Monserez.

But Myszkowski and Moore tied it up at 1-1 with a straight-set win on court four over Sierra Caffo and Kelli Green-Agnew, 21-19, 21-15.

Then Whitmarsh and Newberry took down LSU's Kylie Deberg and Parker Bracken on court three, 24-22, 21-17, to put the Bruins in front, 2-1.

UCLA's Powers and Monkhouse clinched the dual victory with a hard-fought 21-13, 17-21, 15-11, win on court two over LSU's Holly Carlton and Reilly Allred.

Denaburg and Van Winkle then beat the Tigers' Bella Bauman and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope on court one, 21-16, 21-17, to provide the 4-1 final.

The Bruins return to action next weekend in Tucson, Ariz., at the Pac-12 South Invitational (Mar. 26-27).

No. 1 UCLA def. UAB, 5-0
Gulf Beach Place • Gulf Shores, Ala.
Sunday, Mar. 20, 2022 • 11:00 AM PT
Records: UCLA (14-0), UAB (5-14)
1. Lea Monkhouse/Rileigh Powers (UCLA) def. Rachel Tam/Adriana Pereira (UAB) 21-18, 18-21, 15-13
2. Jaden Whitmarsh/Devon Newberry (UCLA) def. Arden Copping Emma Andraka (UAB) 25-23, 21-11
3. Natalie Myszkowski/Sophie Moore (UCLA) def. Dylynn Otte/Jenna Gathright (UAB) 18-21, 21-15, 20-18
4. Jessie Smith/Marlie Monserez (UCLA) def. Jessica Ennis/Ella Alexander (UAB) 21-15, 21-17
5. Pani Napoleon/Tessa Van Winkle (UCLA) def. Naomi Ortiz/Jessica Twilley (UAB) 21-14, 21-17
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2*, 3, 1

No. 1 UCLA def. No. 5 LSU, 4-1
Gulf Beach Place • Gulf Shores, Ala.
Sunday, Mar. 20, 2022 • 1:00 PM PT
Records: UCLA (15-0), LSU (16-2)
1. Lexy Denaburg/Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) def. Bella Bauman/Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope (LSU) 21-16, 21-17
2. Lea Monkhouse/Rileigh Powers (UCLA) def. Holly Carlton/Reilly Allred (LSU) 21-13, 17-21, 15-11
3. Jaden Whitmarsh/Devon Newberry (UCLA) def. Kylie Deberg/Parker Bracken (LSU) 24-22, 21-17
4. Natalie Myszkowski/Sophie Moore (UCLA) def. Sierra Caffo/Kelli Green-Agnew (LSU) 21-19, 21-15
5. Grace Seits/Ellie Shank (LSU) def. Jessie Smith/Marlie Monserez (UCLA) 21-19, 21-19
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 2*, 1