GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 7 seed LSU beach volleyball team dropped its first match to UCLA by a score of 3-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Beach Championships on Friday at the Gulf Shores Public Beach.
With the loss, the Tigers fall to the elimination bracket and will return to action to take on No. 6 Long Beach State at 2 p.m. CT.
“Obviously, we would have liked a different outcome, but we’re here and we’re competing and it’s about one or two plays. In these conditions, one of those two plays can either be fortunate or unfortunate, and you have to stay mentally strong and continue to fight,” said head coach Russell Brock.
“We want to focus on this next match, and we know we can beat anybody here. It’s a matter of executing one or two better plays in the next match. We’re looking forward to our next competition.”
UCLA 3, LSU 0
1. (UCLA ) Nicole McNamara and Megan McNamara def. (LSU) Claire Coppola and Kristen Nuss (18-21, 21-11, 15-10)
2. (UCLA) Kamila Tan and Madi Yeomans def. (LSU) Emmy Allen and Maddie Ligon (21-19, 17-21, 15-10)
3. (UCLA) Lily Justine and Savvy Simo def. (LSU) Megan Davenport and Riley Young (21-18, 21-16)