No. 6 LSU beach volleyball braced for challenge from No. 3 UCLA

Holly Carlton (40) and Reilly Allred (22) lead No. 6 LSU into Friday's key matchup with No. 3 UCLA. PHOTO BY: LSU athletics.

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 6 LSU beach volleyball (31-10) team will meet No. 3 UCLA (32-7) Friday at noon CT on ESPNU at the NCAA Championship.

“It’s going to be an incredibly intense battle,” LSU beach volleyball coach Russell Brock said. “It’s going to be really challenging and it may come down to one play. We have to be mentally and emotionally ready to make that play.”

The double-elimination bracket guarantees LSU two matches on Friday. A win against the Bruins would set up a match at 4 p.m. against the winner of No. 2 TCU and No. 10 Georgia State. Every match on Friday will be televised on ESPNU and coverage from each individual court will also be available on ESPN +.

LSU (31-10) took down Cal 3-2 during Wednesday’s round of single-elimination. With the match tied at two courts, Sierra Caffo and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope won in three sets on Court 5 to survive the Golden Bears. LSU also won on Court 4 with a dominant performance from Grace Seits and Ellie Shank as well as on Court 3 with Reilly Allred and Holly Carlton.

UCLA was tested in the opening round too. The Bruins were on the brink of elimination, but came back, down three points in the third set on Court 2 to clinch the match, 3-2.

LSU has twice lost to UCLA this season, but the Tigers came close to knocking off the Bruins in their most recent matchup, falling 3-2. They’re looking for their first postseason win over the Bruins.

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