Following a tough defeat in last season’s NCAA Tournament, the UCLA women’s beach volleyball team made a commitment to support Maggie Boyd during her final college season.
They certainly kept that promise on Sunday, showcasing an impressive performance.
The third-seeded Bruins handily defeated top-seeded Stanford in under an hour, marking the team’s third national championship in this sport, and their first win since 2019.
In a twist of fate on a Gulf Shores, Alabama beach, the top duo of Boyd and Sally Perez clinched the title, prompting their teammates to rush onto the court in celebration.
UCLA’s three national championships are now second only to USC’s six. Since their NCAA debut in 2016, the Bruins have reached the title match six times.
This victory was particularly special for Jenny Johnson-Jordan, who claimed her first championship after three seasons as UCLA’s head coach. Johnson-Jordan, the daughter of the legendary UCLA track star Rafer Johnson, had previously served as an assistant coach during the team’s first two championships and was an NCAA champion in 1991 as a player on the Bruins’ women’s volleyball team.
“Honestly, it feels surreal,” Johnson-Jordan shared with the California Post. “I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet, but I’m really proud of how our team was firing on all cylinders across every court. That was something special.”
The Bruins quickly took charge, winning the first set on all five courts.
Kayleigh Matthews and Ensley Alden started strong, beating Stanford’s Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sola 21-16, 21-11. Ava Williamson and Jesse Dueck followed suit with a 21-17, 25-23 win, clinching the match with Williamson’s well-timed ace.
This left the Bruins (34-6) just one win away from claiming the championship, with Perez and Boyd sealing their match with a score of 21-11, 21-19.
“The first thing I said to my mom was, ‘All your support and all our hard work has paid off,'” recalled UCLA’s Harper Cooper. “It’s amazing to finally achieve something everyone dreams of.”
What led to the Bruins’ dominance? Johnson-Jordan jokingly remarked, “I wish I knew the secret. I think it’s crucial to communicate who these players are and to ease any pressure. They’ve done the hard work, and this is just the icing on the cake.”
The Bruins advanced to the finals by defeating No. 6 seed Cal Poly in the quarterfinals and No. 2 seed Texas in the semifinals just the day before. UCLA’s win over Texas snapped a three-game losing streak against the Longhorns, including a recent loss at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship.
“It’s not just one thing,” Johnson-Jordan commented on the team’s journey. “We found success in various duels. This match emphasized that we can win in different ways, and our victory over Texas was especially gratifying since our top players really stepped up for us.”
Ultimately, it was rewarding to follow through on their commitment.
