The Bruins struggled with the wind in last year’s NCAA tournament, but coach Stein Metzger said the team is more prepared than ever. “We’ve spent a lot of time talking about (the wind) to the point where, when it was windy, we would focus more on the wind than the opponent,” Metzger said. Read more...

Photo: Sophomore Savvy Simo clinched the Pac-12 title for UCLA over USC last weekend with sophomore Madi Yeomans. The Bruins will aim for another title at the NCAA tournament beginning Friday. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin staff)

Extra workouts aren’t how teams usually celebrate a conference title, but that’s what the Bruins did. Members of the team held plank poses with their elbows on the sand and their Pac-12 trophies laid flat on their backs – the school’s 116th national title on their minds. Read more...

Photo: Junior Megan McNamara has won 24 of her last 26 matches on court one with junior Nicole McNamara. The pair said much of their success has come from the guidance of first-year volunteer assistant coach Jeff Alzina. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin staff)

One title down, one more to go. “We’re very excited that we won this Pac-12 title,” said senior Elise Zappia. “But we’re not here to win a Pac-12 title, we’re here for a national championship.” No. Read more...

Photo: Senior Elise Zappia won her 100th career match as she and freshman Mac May gave UCLA a 1-0 lead over USC. The No. 1-seeded Bruins continued to defeat the No. 2-seeded Trojans and claim the Pac-12 title. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

After their straight-set victory, Savvy Simo and Madi Yeomans sprinted to watch courts one and two. Because that’s what it came down to. No. 1-seeded UCLA beach volleyball (34-3) took a 2-1 lead over No. Read more...

Photo: Sophomore Savvy Simo secured a straight-set victory with sophomore Madi Yeomans to help the No. 1-seeded Bruins defeat No. 2-seeded USC and advance to the final of the Pac-12 championship. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin staff)

The Bruins still have not lost a match. They haven’t even dropped a set. No. 1-seeded UCLA beach volleyball (32-3) breezed past No. 4-seeded Stanford (17-12) on Friday afternoon for its second consecutive sweep in the Pac-12 championships. Read more...

Photo: Juniors Nicole McNamara and Megan McNamara clinched the Bruins’ win over Stanford on Friday in the Pac-12 championships. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin staff)

Lily Justine took care of business on the sand, but she had to switch gears quickly. The sophomore and junior Sarah Sponcil trounced the Utes 21-11, 21-7 to put the Bruins up 4-0 – just in time for Justine to take her genetics midterm. Read more...

Photo: Sophomore Lily Justine and partner junior Sarah Sponcil defeated their Utah opponents in straight sets Thursday in the Bruins’ win over the Utes. No. 1 seed UCLA will now move on to face No. 4 seed Stanford in the quarterfinal of the Pac-12 tournament. (Habeba Mostafa/Daily Bruin)