No. 3 USC Beach Volleyball Rips Through No. 2 Stanford, No. 12 ASU on Alki Sand - USC Athletics (2024)

The Trojans claimed a pair of wins over the second-ranked Cardinal and 12th-ranked Sun Devils to open the Pac-12 North Invitational

Women's Beach Volleyball | April 05, 2024

SEATTLE– The No. 3-ranked USC beach volleyball team (23-3) collected a pair of 4-1 wins over No. 2 Stanford (18-3) and No. 12 Arizona State (16-5) to open play at the Pac-12 North Invitational at Alki Beach Park on Friday, April 5. It was the third straight win for the Women of Troy who also racked up their seventh victory of the season over an opponent ranked in the AVCA top five.

The Trojans improved to 16-0 all-time against Arizona State and avenged one of their three losses to go to 14-1 all-time against the Cardinal. USC—playing in Washington for the first time since 2018—also improved to 5-1 all-time in the Evergreen State.

The clinching blow in both duals came from the No. 5 position where graduateAinsley Radelland sophom*oreMabyn Thomasposted back-to-back straight-set wins to extend their streak to 10 matches. The duo defeated ASU's Ava Haughy and Adriana Nieves Papaleo, 21-19, 21-19, and then got a 21-18, 21-18 win over Stanford's Maya Harvey and Ashley Vincent to improve to 11-1 on the season. Radell inched ever closer to picking up her 100th-career win and now stands at 98 all-time individual victories. Thomas has been on a tear this season and improved to 16-1 on the season with a 21-5 career mark.

At the top court, All-American seniorsMegan KraftandDelaynie Maplewent 4-0 in sets to beat Danielle Kensinger and Ava Williamson of Arizona State, 21-12, 21-16; and Xolani Hodel and Brooke Rockwell of Stanford, 21-12, 21-15. The duo improved to 25-1 on the season and won their 20th consecutive match to mark only the ninth time a Trojan pair has put together a streak of 20 or more wins in a row.

FreshmanAshley Paterand sophom*oreMadison Whitebecame the fifth USC pair to break the double-digit wins barrier this season and improved to 11-1 win a 21-12, 21-6 win over Arizona State's Ava Kirunchyk and Lillie Seymour; and a three-set win, 17-21, 21-18, 15-12, over Stanford's Kate Reilly and Clara Stowell.

On two, the Trojans' graduate duo ofMaddi KrizandGrace Seitsfell to ASU's Arden Besecker and Anya Pemberton in three sets, 21-19, 14-21, 15-11, but bounced back to get a three-set win over Stanford's Ruby Sorra and Taylor Wilson, 13-21, 21-16, 15-12. USC also split matches at the No. 3 position where graduate twinsAudrey NourseandNicole Noursegot a 21-14, 21-16 win over Taryn Ames and Lexi Sweeney of Arizona State, but were defeated by Kelly Belardi and Chloe Hoffman, 21-18, 21-19, in their match against Stanford.

USC is back in action on Saturday (April 6) to conclude play at the Pac-12 North Invitational with a 9 a.m. PT dual against seventh-ranked California (16-8) at Alki Beach Park. Next week, the Trojans take their last of six regular-season road trips when USC heads to San Luis Obispo for the Center of Effort Challenge hosted by Cal Poly, April 12-13, at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex.

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.

No. 3 USC def. No. 12 Arizona State, 4-1
Pac-12 North Invitational
Alki Beach Park·Seattle, Wash.
Friday, April 5, 2024
RECORDS:USC (22-3), Arizona State (16-5)
1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Daniella KENSINGER/Ava WILLIAMSON (ASU); 21-12, 21-16
2. Arden BESECKER/Anya PEMBERTON (ASU) def. Maddi KRIZ/Grace SEITS (USC); 21-19, 14-21, 15-11
3. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) def. Taryn AMES/Lexi SWEENEY (ASU); 21-14, 21-16
4. Ashley PATER/Madison WHITE (USC) def. Ava KIRUNCHYK/Lillie SEYMOUR (ASU); 21-12, 21-6
5. Ainsley RADELL/Mabyn THOMAS (USC) def. Ava HAUGHY/Adriana NIEVES PAPALEO (ASU); 21-19, 21-19
Exh. Madison GOELLNER/Gabby WALKER (USC) vs. Carys THOMAS/Kendall WHITMARSH (ASU)
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 5*, 1

No. 3 USC def. No. 2 Stanford, 4-1
Pac-12 North Invitational
Alki Beach Park·Seattle, Wash.
Friday, April 5, 2024
RECORDS:USC (23-3), Stanford (18-3)
1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Xolani HODEL/Brooke ROCKWELL (STAN); 21-12, 21-15
2. Maddi KRIZ/Grace SEITS (USC) def. Ruby SORRA/Taylor WILSON (STAN); 13-21, 21-16, 15-12
3. Kelly BELARDI/Chloe HOFFMAN (STAN) def. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC); 21-18, 21-19
4. Ashley PATER/Madison WHITE (USC) def. Kate REILLY/Clara STOWELL (STAN); 17-21, 21-18, 15-12
5. Ainsley RADELL/Mabyn THOMAS (USC) def. Maya HARVEY/Ashley VINCENT (STAN); 21-18, 21-18
Exh. Olivia BAKOS/Molly PHILLIPS (USC) vs. Daria GUSAROVA/Emma MORRIS (STAN)
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5*, 1, 3