QUEENS OF THE BEACH: UCLA Sweeps Stanford for 2026 NCAA Crown
The sand settled in Gulf Shores on Sunday, and when it did, the UCLA Bruins were standing on top of it, national champions once again.
No. 3 UCLA won the 2026 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship with a dominant 3-0 sweep of No. 1 Stanford in the national final, claiming their third-ever national title and first since 2019. It was a statement performance from a team that arrived at Gulf Place Public Beach as an underdog on paper — and left as undisputed champions.
The Upset on the Sand
Sunday’s final was the fifth meeting between the two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation rivals this season, and the first decided by a sweep. That made the result all the more stunning. Stanford, the top seed, had entered as the favorite — but the Bruins came out swinging on all five courts from the opening serve.
The Bruins cruised to the title, taking control early on Court 2, where Kaley Matthews and Ensley Alden defeated Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sorra 21-16, 21-11. UCLA moved within one point of the title on Court 4, as their pair held off Stanford’s Indigo Clarke and Clara Stowell 21-17, 25-23.
The championship-clinching moment came fittingly at Court 1, where UCLA’s No. 1 pair of Sally Perez and Maggie Boyd sealed the deal. After taking their first set 21-11, the duo took the second set 21-19 to complete the 3-0 sweep. UCLA won the first set on all five courts, seizing the momentum it never surrendered.
A Historic Season for the Bruins
This national championship marks the third NCAA title in program history for UCLA, with the first two coming back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. This is also the first championship under third-year head coach Jenny Johnson Jordan.
The win carries even broader significance in Westwood. Beach volleyball is the third UCLA sports team to win a national championship this school year and the 127th overall NCAA title across all UCLA sports, joining women’s basketball and men’s water polo.
Four-time AVCA All-American and 2026 AVCA Beach Player of the Year Maggie Boyd is the only senior on UCLA’s roster, meaning the Bruins could return nearly their entire roster next season as they look to defend the title.
Stanford’s Heartbreak
For Stanford, the loss stings, but it shouldn’t overshadow a remarkable run. The top-seeded Cardinal finished 39-4 on the season, the best postseason run in program history, and made their first-ever appearance in the championship dual match.
Stanford opened tournament play with a 3-0 sweep of No. 16 Chattanooga, then beat No. 8 California in the quarterfinals before dispatching No. 5 Florida State in the semifinals to reach their first-ever title match.
Kelly Belardi and Avery Jackson were named AVCA first-team All-Americans, while Ruby Sorra earned second-team honors. The Cardinal will head home hungry — and with every reason to believe their championship moment is coming.
The Road to the Final
The tournament bracket produced several compelling storylines along the way. No. 3 UCLA knocked out No. 2 Texas in a tight 3-2 semifinal, while Stanford edged No. 5 Florida State 3-1 on the other side of the bracket. Earlier in the tournament, Florida State had dispatched No. 4 USC to reach the semis, while California survived a nail-biter against No. 9 Long Beach State 3-2 in the first round.
The Bottom Line
UCLA came to Gulf Shores as the third seed, played like the best team in the country, and proved it when it mattered most. Stanford showed the college volleyball world that it belongs on the biggest stage. And the 2026 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship delivered exactly what the sport needed: a classic rivalry, a stunning sweep, and a new champion crowned on the Gulf Coast sand.
The Bruins are back. 🏐👑