UCLA beach volleyball sweeps Cal State Bakersfield on Senior Day
UCLA beach volleyball fourth-year players, along with senior support staff and managers, line up at the net alongside their families to celebrate Senior Day at Mapes Beach. The Bruins have three players that are graduating this year. (Chenrui Zhang/Daily Bruin staff)
beach volleyball
| Cal State Bakersfield | 0 |
| No. 1 UCLA | 5 |
By Aaron Propst
April 15, 2026 10:36 p.m.
A dominant season met a moment rooted in emotion.
No. 1 UCLA beach volleyball (26-4) sent off its seniors with a 5-0 sweep against Cal State Bakersfield (10-22) on Tuesday at Mapes Beach. The Bruins increased their winning streak to seven while finishing the season a perfect 13-0 at home.
The Bruins controlled every aspect of the duel, winning all five matches without dropping a single set.
Sophomore Sally Perez and senior Maggie Boyd closed out court one with a 21-18, 21-12 win.
Boyd is one of the most decorated players in program history. She captured the 2024 AVCA National Collegiate Beach Pairs title, earned three AVCA All-American selections and was named the 2025 MPSF Player of the Year throughout her four-year stint in Westwood. Across her career, she combined elite on-court success with academic excellence and international experience, cementing her legacy as one of UCLA beach volleyball’s all-time greats.
“One of the coolest parts of my experience has been growing from being the younger player learning from older teammates to eventually stepping into that leadership role myself,” Boyd said. ”It means so much to me because the relationships I’ve built in this program are ones I know I’ll carry for the rest of my life, and just being surrounded by so many people I love on a day like this makes it incredibly special.”

Redshirt sophomore Kaley Mathews and redshirt junior Ensley Alden picked up a 21-19, 21-16 win on court two, followed by junior Ava Williamson and sophomore Adelina Okazaki, who cruised to a 21-17, 21-17 victory on court three. On court four, redshirt sophomore Hannah Fleming and sophomore Alexa Fernandez capped the contest with a 21-16, 22-20 win, pulling away in a tightly contested second set over Olivia Ostler and Emma Neville.
Redshirt junior Kenzie Brower and freshman Mallory LaBreche rounded out the effort on court five with a decisive 21-16, 21-11 performance, helping UCLA complete the sweep. The pair controlled both sets from the start, capping off a comprehensive team showing that highlighted UCLA’s consistent depth.
The match also marked Brower’s final home appearance, who leaves behind a steady and impactful Westwood career. She earned NCAA All-Tournament Team honors last year while primarily competing on court three.
She also complemented her on-court contributions with strong academic success, earning multiple conference and university honors throughout her time at UCLA, further reflecting her all-around impact on the program.

“In the age of the transfer portal, this has been a really special class because they’ve stayed here all four years, and it’s been rewarding to watch them grow from freshmen into the leaders they are now,” said coach Jenny Johnson Jordan. “You can see the impact they’ve had on this program, and because of that, today was emotional for everyone. It’s bittersweet, but it really showed how strong the connection within this team is.”
The final departee, redshirt junior Jayla Shanks, followed a different path, but one that was just as impactful. While she was unable to compete during Senior Day, she has served as a source of leadership and resilience for her teammates throughout her collegiate career.
“My journey looked different because of the injury I went through, but that allowed me to show a different kind of strength,” Shanks said. “We’ve built a habit of gratitude as a team, so even with all the emotions of today, we’re able to reset quickly and stay focused. We know what our goals are, and we’re ready to turn the page and keep pushing toward them.”
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, UCLA turns the page to a road matchup against USC. The Bruins will have the opportunity to carry both their momentum and cohesion into a challenging environment as they prepare for postseason competition.
