USC Beach Volleyball Collects 3-1 Win Over Cal to Move On at Pac-12 Championship

TEMPE, Ariz. – The top-seeded USC beach volleyball team (31-4) claimed a 3-1 win over fourth-seeded California (21-12) in the winner's bracket semifinal of the Pac-12 Championship at Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility on Thursday, April 25. The Women of Troy move into the winner's bracket final (9 a.m. PT, April 26) to take on crosstown rival No. 2-seeded UCLA (31-5) where the victor moves directly to the Pac-12 Championship dual. 
 
The Trojans improved to 13-3 all-time against California and moved to 26-7 in duals at the Pac-12 Championship with a 10-1 mark in the state of Arizona. USC also improved to 38-1 all-time in the Copper State and moved to 149-17 in duals when it is ranked No. 1. The dual with the Bruins will mark the 32nd time that USC plays in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 dual (17-14 all-time).
 
Cal scored the first point of the dual from the No. 5 position. It was only the fourth time that an opponent has scored the first point of a dual over the Trojans this season. There, Jenna Colligan and Portia Sherman defeated freshman Madison Goellner and sophomore Mabyn Thomas in straight sets, 21-16, 21-17.
 
USC evened the dual score with a win by twin graduates Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse at the No. 3 position. The sisters earned a 25-23, 21-15 win over Gia Fisher and Marilu Pally, to go to 26-7 on the season and picked up their 117th all-time win together.
 
The Trojans went in front, 2-1, on a victory at the top court when senior All-Americans Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple collected a 21-10, 21-12 win over Sierra Caffo and Alexandra Young-Gomez. Kraft-Maple—the reigning Pac-12 Pair of the Week—improved to 32-3 on the season and picked up their 60th all-time win as a pair to become just the sixth USC duo ever to reach the 60-win plateau.
 
USC's win went into the books when freshman Ashley Pater and graduate Grace Seits delivered a 21-14, 21-12 win over Lara Boos and Ella Dreibholz at the No. 4 position.  Pater-Seits remained unbeaten on the season and improved to 7-0 all-time as a pair.
 
With the result in hand, play was stopped at the No. 2 position. There, graduate Maddi Kriz and sophomore Madison White had taken a 23-21 win over Emma Donley and Kendall Peters in the first set but were behind, 13-8, in set two. 
 
USC and UCLA will meet for the fifth time this season with an even 2-2 mark in regular-season series. The Trojans lead the all-time series by a 25-19 count with an even 6-6 record when the teams meet in the Pac-12 Championship. In all postseason duals, USC leads UCLA, 9-8. All duals at the Pac-12 tournament are shown live on Pac-12 Networks.
 
For more information on the Pac-12 Championship including a complete schedule and results, please visit TheSunDevils.com. 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 X @USCBeach.
 
[1] No. 1 USC def. [4] No. 8 California, 3-1
Pac-12 Championship · Winner's Bracket Semifinal
Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility · Tempe, Ariz.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
RECORDS: USC (31-4), California (21-12)
1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Sierra CAFFO/Alexandra YOUNG-GOMEZ (CAL); 21-10, 21-12
2. Maddi KRIZ/Madison WHITE (USC) vs. Emma DONLEY/Kendall PETERS (CAL); 23-21, 8-13 DNF
3. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) def. Gia FISHER/Marilu PALLY (CAL); 25-23, 21-15
4. Ashley PATER/Grace SEITS (USC) def. Lara BOOS/Ella DREIBHOLZ (CAL); 21-14, 21-12
5. Jenna COLLIGAN/Portia SHERMAN (CAL) def. Madison GOELLNER/Mabyn THOMAS (USC); 21-16, 21-17
Order of finish: 5, 3, 1, 4*