The nation’s top-ranked team lived up to its billing over the weekend, sweeping the inaugural MPSF Midseason Rumble at Beach Volleyball Stadium in Stanford, California.

No. 1 UCLA beach volleyball (13-1) swept Oregon (3-8) and defeated No. 5 Stanford (9-5) by a score of 4-1 Friday before shutting out No. 16 Grand Canyon (8-4) and defeating No. 9 California (9-3) by a point. After previously sweeping the Battle for LA last weekend, the Bruins find themselves on an eight-match win streak.

“We fight for each other, and we support each other day-in and day-out,” said freshman Sally Perez. “Getting to compete day-in and day-out against this really tough schedule is exactly what we needed.”

In the tournament’s final match against Cal, UCLA found itself in an early 2-1 hole after getting swept on courts four and five. But redshirt sophomores Kenzie Brower and Ensley Alden held off Marilu Pally and Alexandria Young-Gomez 21-16, 18-21, 15-7 to even the dual at two each.

In a winner-take-all showdown on court one, Perez and junior Maggie Boyd came through – outlasting Emma Donley and Portia Sherman in a back-and-forth battle 23-21, 16-21, 15-13.

The Bruins quickly took control against the Ducks in their first match of the invitational as graduate student Peri Brennan and senior Natalie Myszkowski claimed a straight-set victory on court two 21-13, 21-11 – setting the tone for UCLA’s eighth straight shutout of Oregon.

Later Friday evening, the Bruins clinched their match against the Cardinal when Boyd and Perez defeated Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sorra 21-18, 21-13.

The Bruins kept their momentum rolling Saturday with a sweep of the Antelopes. Later that day, freshman Alexa Fernandez and redshirt freshman Kaley Mathews made a strong statement, sweeping Cal’s Madi Bogle and Regan Holmer 21-11, 21-18 on court four before freshman Harper Cooper and senior Sophie Moore clinched the GCU match with a 21-17, 21-13 win on court five.

“We knew we wanted to come out with our best game because we know they think the best when they see UCLA across the net,” Fernandez said. “We’re able to really rely on each other, trust each other and just come out hard and aggressive.”

The Bruins didn’t drop a set across the first four matches, but Boyd and Perez dropped their second against GCU’s Katie Keefe and Sarah Edler. Still they ultimately walked away victorious 21-11, 21-23, 15-9.

“I’ve been challenged so much,” Perez said. “Every dual gives us a chance to grow, and I’m really proud of how we battled through some tough moments this weekend.”