No. 3 UCLA Defeats No. 4 Florida State, 3-2
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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- No. 3 UCLA (26-2) battled to the very end and came away with a 3-2 victory over No. 4 Florida State (24-6) in the Bruins' first game of the Center of Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Friday afternoon. The win extended UCLA's current winning streak to six duals while also extending its winning streak over the Seminoles to eight straight. UCLA improved to 12-7 all-time against Florida State with its seventh 3-2 victory of the season.
In just their second week together, Lea Monkhouse and Jessie Smith remained undefeated on the year at 4-0 with a straigh-set win on court three. The Bruins led 1-0 after the pair took down Kate Privett and Anna Long, 21-17, 22-20.
The Bruins would take a 2-0 lead after Jaden Whitmarsh and Devon Newberry improved to 22-2 on the year (6-1 on court two) with a 21-14, 17-21, 15-13, win over FSU's Alaina Chacon and Madison Fitzpatrick.
The Seminoles put a point on the board when Jordan Polo and Morgan Chacon won two extended tight sets over Natalie Myszkowski and Sophie Moore on court four, 29-27, 25-23.
Florida State's rally continued on court one where Erin Murphy and Brook Bauer defeated UCLA's Lexy Denaburg and Abby Van Winkle in a three-set thriller, 16-21, 21-18, 18-16, to tie the dual up at 2-2.
It all came down to court five where FSU's relatively new pair of Caitlin Moon and Raelyn White (7-1 overall and 5-0 on court five) were up against a new Bruin pair of Marlie Monserez and Rileigh Powers (3-0 overall, 2-0 on court five). All three sets were decided by the minimum of two points with the Bruins dropping the first set 20-22, but forcing a third set by winning the second, 21-19. The duo trailed 12-11 in the third set but rallied to win four out of the last five points to win 15-13, securing the dual victory for UCLA.
In all, eight of the 13 sets played between the two teams were decided by just two points with five of the sets going into extra points.
The Bruins return to action later today when they take on No. 6 LMU at 5:00 p.m. PT in both teams' second dual of the Center of Effort Challenge. LMU lost their first dual of the day to No. 1 USC, 3-2.
No. 3 UCLA def. No. 4 Florida State, 3-2
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex • San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Friday, Apr. 15, 2022 • 2:00 PM PT
Records: UCLA (26-2), FSU (24-6)
1. Erin Murphy/Brook Bauer (FSU) def. Lexy Denaburg/Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) 16-21, 21-18, 18-16
2. Jaden Whitmarsh/Devon Newberry (UCLA) def. Alaina Chacon/Madison Fitzpatrick (FSU) 21-14, 17-21, 15-13
3. Lea Monkhouse/Jessie Smith (UCLA) def. Kate Privett/Anna Long (FSU) 21-17, 22-20
4. Jordan Polo/Morgan Chacon (FSU) def. Natalie Myszkowski/Sophie Moore (UCLA) 29-27, 25-23
5. Marlie Monserez/Rileigh Powers (UCLA) def. Caitlin Moon/Raelyn White (FSU) 20-22, 21-19, 15-13
Order of finish: 3, 2, 4, 1, 5*