TCU downs No. 1 UCLA & No. 9 Hawaii

Thursday, March 31

Los Angeles, Calif.

1:30 PM

TCU

Hawaii

TCU downs No. 1 UCLA & No. 9 Hawaii

3/31/2022 8:58:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

TCU knocks off No. 1 for the first time in program history

LOS ANGELES -- No. 2 TCU beach volleyball (26-0) stands alone as the only undefeated team in the nation after defeating No. 1 UCLA (19-1) 4-1 on Thursday afternoon at the Mapes Beach Invitational. For the first time this season, TCU defeated two top 10 opponents in the same day, taking down No. 9 Hawaii, 3-2 and No. 1 UCLA, 4-1.

TCU is now 26-0 with 13 wins vs. Top 20, nine vs. Top 10, three vs. Top 5 and now, the program's first-ever victory over a No. 1 ranked opponent.

"Huge congratulations to the team and everyone supporting us today," Head Coach Hector Gutierrez said. "Today was no easy task, it was beat No. 1 at their court. I'm at a loss for words. I never had doubt in my mind that we were ready to do it. It is no surprise that we are able to compete at this level. The girls have proved to themselves that they deserve the chance to be the best in the country and we proved it today."

The match against UCLA was based in two flights, starting with the two even pairs. TCU's No. 2's, Sutton MacTavish and Kaylie McHugh, set the tone for the match with a straight sets victory to put TCU in front, 1-0, while the No. 4 pairing of Maria Gonzalez and Ana Vergara were headed into a third set. The duo leaned on their experience in three-setters to give TCU a 2-0 lead by winning the set, 15-12. They are now 8-2 in three set matches, with their last three such victories coming by a 15-12 score against No. 4 Florida State, No. 6 LSU and No. 1 UCLA.

In the second round of matches, Megan Muret, a graduate transfer playing against her former team, teamed up with her partner Rochelle Scott at No. 5. They went on a late run in their opening set, winning five of the final six points to take a one-set lead before closing out the clinching victory in a back and forth second set, 21-18. The win clinched the match for TCU, 3-0 - the same score that a then No. 1 seeded UCLA had defeated No. 8 seeded TCU by in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

With the match in hand, UCLA claimed a point on court three before Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno ended the day on a winning note with a three-set victory at No. 1.

Three Horned Frogs delivered a perfect, 2-0, day: Sutton MacTavish, Megan Muret and Rochelle Scott. Muret/Scott now hold he longest active winning streak by a pair, 12 matches, after Alvarez and Moreno's streak was ended, at a program-record 15, in the victory over No. 9 Hawaii.

QUICK HITS AGAINST No. 9 Hawaii:

Sutton MacTavish and Hailey Hamlett secured the first point of the weekend for the Horned Frogs from the No. 2 position: 21-15, 21-13.
With this victory, the duo notched their 7th win of the season as a pairing.
MacTavish improved her seasonal record to 18-5, Hamlett to 14-3.
Megan Muret and Rochelle Scott scored the second point for the Frogs to tie the match from the No. 5 position: 13-21, 25-23, 15-12.
Coming back from a first set deficit, the duo was able to notch their 19th win of the season.
They are 11-1 against ranked opponents this season.
Alexis Filippone and Hailey Brockett clinched the Horned Frog victory in a three-set victory at the No. 3 position: 17-21, 21-14, 15-9.
The duo improved to 11-3 this season as a pairing.
The pairing notched their 3rd ranked win together.
TCU went 2-1 in three set matches today against Hawaii.
This is the second time this season that the Frogs have defeated the 'Bows. Hawaii currently leads the series 5-2.

QUICK HITS AGAINST No. 1 UCLA:

Sutton MacTavish, switching partners for the second matchup, scored the first point of the dual with Kaylie McHugh from the No. 2 position: 21-15, 22-20.
The duo took their 10th straight set victory as a paring this season.
They improved their record to 10-3 as a pairing.
MacTavish notched her 19th win of the season, McHugh her 11^th.
Maria Gonzalez and Ana Vergara scored the second consecutive point for the Frogs in a three-set victory: 21-14, 19-21, 15-12.
Three setters are no strangers to this pairing as the lead the team 8-2 in three set matches this season.
The pairing notched their 18th win of the season.
They improved to 11-2 in ranked matchups.
Muret and Scott clinched the victory over the Bruins in a straight set victory from No. 5: 21-15, 21-18.
TCU scored three consecutive points to notch the victory over UCLA.
Riding a 12-game winning streak, the pairing notched their 20^th victory together.
Muret improved her seasonal record to 23-1, Scott to 22-1.
Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno claimed the final point of the match for the Horned Frogs from the No. 1 position: 21-15, 19-21, 15-12.
The duo improved their seasonal record to 23-2.
They claimed their 11th ranked win this season.

Results: #2 TCU 3, #9 Hawaii 2
1. Brooke Van Sickle/Kaylee Glagau (UH) de. Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno (TCU) 21-16, 21-18
2. Hailey Hamlett/Sutton MacTavish (TCU) def. Anna Maidment/Sofia Russo (UH) 21-15, 21-13
3. Alexis Filippone/Hailey Brockett (TCU) de. Sarah Penner/Kylin Loker (UH) 17, 21, 21-14, 15-9
4. Jaime Santer/Megan Widener (UH) def. Maria Gonzalez/Ana Vergara (TCU) 18-21, 21-16, 15-10
5. Megan Muret/Rochelle Scott (TCU) def. Ilihia Huddleson/Riley Wagoner (UH) 13-21, 25-23, 15-12
Order of finish: (2,4,1,5,3)

Results: #2 TCU 4, #1 UCLA 1
1. Daniela Alverez/Tania Moreno (TCU) def. Lexy Denaburg/Abby Van Wikle (UCLA) 21-15, 19-21, 15-12
2. Sutton MacTavish/Kaylie McHugh (TCU) def. Rileigh Powers/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA) 21-15, 22-20
3. Devon Newberry/Jaden Witmarsh (UCLA) def. Alexis Filippone/Hailey Brockett (TCU) 21-14, 21-18
4. Maria Gonzalez/Ana Vergara (TCU) def. Sophie Moore/Natalie Myszkowsi (UCLA) 21-14, 19-21, 15-12
5. Megan Muret/Rochelle Scott (TCU) def. Jessie Smith/Marlie Monserez (UCLA) 21-15, 21-18
Order of finish: (2,4,5,3,1)

UP NEXT
TCU will stay in Los Angeles for the weekend. The Horned Frogs resume play Saturday for the UCLA Invitational against No. 5 LMU, No. 1 UCLA and No. 3 USC. The Frogs open the tournament against No. 5 LMU at 1 p.m.

FOLLOW THE FROGS
For more information on TCU beach volleyball, visit gofrogs.com and follow the team on social media: @TCUBeachVB on twitter, Instagram and Facebook.