#HawaiiBVB

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 3 University of Hawai'i beach volleyball team's bid for a national championship came to an end Sunday with a 3-2 loss to top-ranked UCLA in the semifinal match of the 2018 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship.The Rainbow Wahine finish their season at 37-5 while the Bruins (40-4) advanced to the NCAA finals, where they captured their first-ever NCAA beach volleyball title with a 3-1 win against Florida State.The SandBows only lost to two teams all season – UCLA (three times) and FSU (twice) – in a historic season that saw the team break numerous school records and finish third at the national championship for the second consecutive year.UH got on the scoreboard first with a win at Court 4, whereandwon in straight sets 21-16, 21-16. Moments later, UCLA evened the match at No. 5 with a 21-14, 21-12 victory over UH'sand. UCLA's McNamara twins then defeatedand22-20, 21-18 at Court 1 for a 2-1 lead in the dual.With the season on the line, UH'sanderased several dual points to send their match to a third set with a 25-23 win in Set 2. The Sandbows tied the dual at 2-2 asandwon in three sets, 15-12 in the third, at Court 3.Coming down to Court 2, UCLA's Lily Justine and Sarah Sponcil ran away in the end for a 15-11 win to clinch the match for the Bruins.Following the championship, UH's No. 3 pair of Kan and Weaver were named to the all-tournament team after going a perfect 4-0 on the weekend.1. Megan McNamara/Nicole McNamara (UCLA) def. Maglio/Shucht (UH), 22-20, 21-182. Lily Justine/Sarah Sponcil (UCLA) def. Martin/Monkhouse (UH), 21-19, 23-25, 15-113. Kan/Weaver (UH) def. Zana Muno/Savvy Simo (UCLA), 21-19, 16-21, 15-124. Ozee/Homayun (UH) def. Mac May/Elise Zappia (UCLA), 21-16, 21-165. Izzy Carey/Megan Muret (UCLA) def. Dreeuws/Zalopany (UH), 21-14, 21-124, 5, 1, 3, 2*