SAN BRUNO, Calif. - No. 8 LMU is coming off two top-12 wins at the East Meets West Invitational last weekend, sweeping No. 12 LSU and defeating No. 8 Arizona State, 3-2, for the Lions' sixth ranked win of the season. LMU is currently 12-5 with its only loses coming from top-6 opponents - No. 4 USC, No. 1 UCLA, No. 6 Texas, No. 2 Stanford and No. 5 Texas.
Saint Mary's has generated one of its best starts to a season in nearly a decade. After a perfect 4-0 weekend in San José, the Gaels sit at 14-4 on the year to be 10 games over .500 for the first time since 2019 when they sat 16-6 through their first 22 matches that year. Saint Mary's also boasts a top-12 victory on the season, defeating No. 12 Hawai'i, 3-2, at the Heineken Queen's Cup in Honolulu for the Gaels' first win over a ranked opponent since 2023 when they defeated No. 18 Pepperdine. Last weekend, Saint Mary's Hannah Couch also became the program's all-time leader in matches played with 120.
Pepperdine and Santa Clara both sit above .500 on the season thus far, with the Waves garnering an 11-7 record after sweeping the Malibu Invite. The Broncos sit 9-7 and are a perfect 4-0 against league oppoenents this season.
In The Rankings
LMU opened up the AVCA preseason rankings as the No. 7-ranked team heading into the season. The Lions currently rank No. 8 in the latest poll. Pepperdine is currently receiving votes.
This Week
RV Pepperdine will host the ASICS Classic on March 20 and 21. The Waves will take on RV Tulane and Vanguard on Friday before hosting fellow West Coast Conference foe LMU Saturday morning and then Concordia University Irvine.
Before joining Pepperdine at the ASICS Classic, LMU will host Concordia University on Friday at noon. Once the Lions make it to Malibu on Saturday, they will take on the Waves Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. and then the Green Wave at 11:00 a.m.
Saint Mary's hosts conference opponent Pacific and also Washington for a two-day clash in Moraga. The trio will play one another on Saturday and Sunday.
Portland and Oregon will take turns hosting each other with doubleheaders, first competing in Eugene on Friday and then at Portland on Sunday.
San Francisco will battle a top-20 opponent in Tucson at the Arizona Invitational. On Friday, the Dons will take on UTEP and Missouri State before going up against Tarleton State and No. 19 Arizona on Saturday.
After this week, all West Coast Conference beach volleyball programs will head to Santa Cruz for the annual two-day Santa Cruz Mid-Season Invitational. Teams will compete March 27 and 28.
2026 West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament
The 2026 West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament will take place April 23 and 24 from Ocean Park Beach in Santa Monica, Calif. For more information please click here.