No. 1 USC Beach Volleyball Whips Up 3-0 Sweep of Wildcats to Advance

TUCSON, Ariz. – The top-seeded and No. 1-ranked USC beach volleyball team (30-1) took down fifth-seeded tournament host No. 17 Arizona (19-11) by a 3-0 count in the winner's bracket semifinal of the Pac-12 Championship on Bear Down Beach on Thursday, April 28.
 
The Women of Troy extend their winning streak to 29 duals—which ties the second longest streak in program history—and picked up their 20th shutout of an opponent this season. It is the fifth time that USC has reached 30 wins in a single season. The Trojans improved to 10-0 all-time against Arizona and to 30-1 in matches played in the state of Arizona. The Trojans also go to 20-5 all-time in Pac-12 tournament duals.
 
Twin sisters Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse celebrated their 21st birthday by scoring the first dual point of the day on a 21-11, 21-14 win over Dana Parker and Abby Russell at the No. 4 position. The sisters improve to 21-4 on the season and to 57-10 on their fifth straight win.
 
USC went in front, 2-0, with a win at the No. 3 position where Delaynie Maple and Julia Scoles got a 21-9, 21-14 win over Dilara Gedikoglu and Jasmine Safar. Maple-Scoles improve to 30-1 on the season to match the Trojans' overall record.
 
The sweep went into the books on a 21-14, 21-14 win secured by Megan Kraft and Sammy Slater at the No. 2 position over Sarah Blacker and Maja Kaiser. Kraft and Slater stayed unbeaten and go to 22-0 on the season. 
 
With the match clinched, play was stopped at the corners. At No. 1, Tina Graudina and Hailey Harward won their first set, 21-19, over Alex Parkhurst and Alana Rennie and were leading, 17-14, in the second. On court five, Mollie Ebertin and Sunny Villapando took a 21-14 win over Annie Kost and Hope Shannon and were tied at 20 in the second when play was halted.
 
The Trojans will face crosstown rival second-seeded and No. 3-ranked UCLA (30-5) in the winner's bracket final at 3:15 p.m. PT. The winner will move directly into the championship dual set for 2 p.m. PT on Friday, April 29.
 
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCBeach.
 
[1] No. 1 USC def. [5] No. 17 Arizona, 3-0
Pac-12 Championship · Winner's Bracket Semifinal
Bear Down Beach · Tucson, Ariz.
Thursday, April 28, 2022
RECORDS: USC (30-1), Arizona (19-11)
1. Tina GRAUDINA/Hailey HARWARD (USC) vs. Alex PARKHURST/Alana RENNIE (ARIZ); 21-19, 17-14 DNF
2. Megan KRAFT/Sammy SLATER (USC) def. Sarah BLACKER/Maja KAISER (ARIZ); 21-14, 21-14
3. Delaynie MAPLE/Julia SCOLES (USC) def. Dilara GEDIKOGLU/Jasmine SAFAR (ARIZ); 21-9, 21-14
4. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) def. Dana PARKER/Abby RUSSELL (ARIZ); 21-11, 21-14
5. Mollie EBERTIN/Sunny VILLAPANDO (USC) vs. Annie KOST/Hope SHANNON (ARIZ); 21-14, 20-20 DNF
Order of finish: 4, 3, 2*