UCLA Sweeps Stanford for Third Beach Volleyball Title

The UCLA Bruins proved that patience and persistence pay off, sweeping top-seeded Stanford 3-0 in Gulf Shores, Alabama to capture their third NCAA beach volleyball championship.

Sally Perez and Maggie Boyd clinched the title with a decisive victory over Stanford's Kelly Belardi and Avery Jackson, winning 21-11, 21-19. The win ended a seven-year championship drought for the Bruins, who last hoisted the trophy in 2019.

Third-seeded UCLA entered the tournament with a 33-6 record and proved they belonged on the biggest stage. Kaley Mathews and Ensley Alden started the sweep with a commanding 21-16, 21-11 win, while Ava Williamson and Jesse Dueck secured the 2-0 lead in the day's tightest match at 21-17, 25-23.

The victory marked a career milestone for coach Jenny Johnson Jordan, who took over the program in 2023. She earned the championship in just her third season, building on the foundation laid by Stein Metzger, who led UCLA to their first two titles.

Johnson reached another benchmark just one day earlier, notching her 100th career win when the Bruins upset No. 2 Texas 3-2 in the semifinals. That grit carried through to the finals, where UCLA never gave Stanford a chance to find their rhythm.

Why This Inspires

This championship shows what happens when new leadership honors tradition while forging its own path. Johnson Jordan didn't try to replicate past success but instead built a team culture that earned its own place in UCLA history.

The Bruins also demonstrated that being the underdog can be an advantage. Facing the top-seeded Cardinal with everything to lose, UCLA played loose and confident, sweeping through the final without dropping a single match.

For Stanford, reaching their first championship match under coach Andrew Fuller shows their program is rising. The Cardinal finished with an impressive 39-4 record and gained invaluable experience that will fuel future runs.

The victory returns UCLA to the top of a competitive sport where seven different schools have won championships since 2016. That parity makes each title even more special and proves that dedication and teamwork can overcome any seeding.

Seven years between championships is a long time in college sports, but the Bruins never stopped believing their moment would come again.