Beach volleyball twins are first all-freshman pair named All-Americans
Freshman Megan McNamara (pictured), the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and her twin Nicole McNamara became the first all-freshman team to be named AVCA Collegiate Beach All-Americans. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)
By Aubrey Yeo
May 12, 2016 1:21 a.m.
UCLA beach volleyball came in third at the NCAA Tournament last weekend, but the future is bright with a pair of freshmen finishing their first season as All-Americans.
Megan McNamara and Nicole McNamara were named AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball All-Americans Wednesday. The twins are the first all-freshman pair to win the honor since the AVCA started voting on All-American teams five years ago.
Seven other duos were named to the team, including players from the University of Arizona, Pepperdine and NCAA champion USC. The McNamara sisters weren’t the only twins to take the honor, as Arizona juniors Madison Witt and McKenna Witt were also dubbed All-Americans.
The McNamara sisters’ national accolades come just a week after the duo captured several conference awards. Megan McNamara was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, while both sisters were named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament All-Freshman and All-Conference first teams.
Even though the 2016 collegiate beach volleyball season is over, the Canadian pair won’t be slowing down any time soon. Nicole and Megan McNamara are currently in Lucerne, Switzerland, representing their country in the U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships. This tournament also features fellow Pac-12 All-Freshman honorees UCLA’s Zana Muno and USC’s Abril Bustamante who will pair up to represent Team USA.
