After a rocky start to the season due to battling the wind, the Bruins will compete at home for the first time. “We feel good about the conditions because our conditions are different than Hawaii, different than LMU and we’re used it,” said coach Stein Metzger. Read more...

Photo: Lily Justine defeated a pair from USC with partner Sarah Sponcil in the Bruins’ loss to the Trojans last weekend. The UCLA duo fell to the team from Pepperdine and looks to recover in its matches Thursday. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

The Bruins faced the Trojans and Waves for the second time this week – but the matches had the opposite result. No. 3 UCLA beach volleyball (5-3) fell to No. Read more...

Photo: Savvy Simo won her match against USC in two sets with junior Zana Muno. The sophomore has also paired with freshman Mac May and sophomore Chanti Holroyd throughout the beginning of this season, as Muno was out with an injury. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

Three Bruin pairs helped secure victories against two of the top teams in the country. No. 3 UCLA beach volleyball (5-1) defeated No. 1 USC (4-2) and No. Read more...

Photo: Izzy Carey secured two straight-set victories against Pepperdine and USC for the Bruins with partner Megan Muret. The junior will face these two teams again this weekend and said remaining confident is key. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

In only their second week of competition, the Bruins will face two top-five teams. No. 3 UCLA beach volleyball (3-1) will take on No. 5 Pepperdine (2-1) and No. Read more...

Photo: Senior Elise Zappia started this season with three wins in Honolulu with partner Madi Yeomans. Last season, Zappia was paired with Torrey Van Winden who has since transferred to Cal Poly. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

The Bruins didn’t get the season start they were looking for – but they recovered. No. 3 UCLA beach volleyball (3-1) traveled to Honolulu this weekend to face No. Read more...

Photo: Megan McNamara won three matches this weekend with her partner Nicole McNamara. The junior clinched the victory for UCLA against Hawai’i on Sunday. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin Senior)

UCLA beach volleyball hasn’t lost more than eight matches in a season since the team’s inception in 2013. This year, the Bruins hope for even better. Read more...

Photo: Elise Zappia will be a leader on this year’s roster with the addition of six freshmen. The senior finished the 2016 season 21-12 overall with partner junior Izzy Carey. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)