SAN BRUNO, Calif. - For the ninth time in 11 years, the 2026 West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament returns to Santa Monica's Ocean Park Beach. The tournament runs Thursday, April 23 to Friday, April 24.
No. 1 seed LMU looks to defend its conference-record sixth straight West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Championship after capturing the program's first title in 2019. The Lions won the 2025 West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament after taking down No. 4 Santa Clara, 3-0, en route to competing in the 2025 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship before falling to TCU, 3-2, in the national championship match. The Lions have yet to give up a match point in a conference tournament since defeating No. 2 Pepperdine in the 2024 championship, 3-1. LMU enters the tournament ranked No. 7 in the latest AVCA poll and are coming off a 4-0 weekend that saw LMU earn three top-11 victories - No. 3 USC and No. 11 Grand Canyon twice. The Lions (26-10) garnered 10 wins against opponents ranked at least No. 11 in the national rankings and have earned an unbeaten home record in each of the last two seasons.
No. 2 seed Pepperdine (24-14) heads to Santa Monica looking for its first conference title since 2018. The Waves will play No. 7 Portland in dual three of opening day.
No. 3 seed Saint Mary's (25-10) made history this season, setting a program record with 25 wins, which bests previous season totals of 20 wins in 2025 and 2019. The Gaels will take on No. 6 Pacific in dual two on Thursday.
No. 4 seed Santa Clara (19-15) also set a program record in wins after earning its 19th win on the final day of the regular season. The previous record of 18 wins was set in 2023 and occurred again in 2025. The Broncos will take on No. 5 San Francisco in the first dual of the tournament.
The West Coast Conference boasts two Beach Volleyball National Champions, with Pepperdine winning the AVCA Team Championships in 2012 and 2014. The Waves competed in four-straight national championships from 2016-19, highlighted by an NCAA Runner-Up showing in 2017. LMU has earned five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by last year's championship appearance.
All duals on both days of the tournament will be streamed live for the first time on ESPN+. For Thursday's action, this will not be a traditional broadcast and there will not be sound. There will be a live feed of each court with the scoring to match the court. Friday's duals will be a full broadcast and will have interviews with following each dual with the winning head coach.
Thursday, April 23
| 9:00 AM |
Dual 1 |
No. 4 Santa Clara vs. No. 5 San Francisco |
ESPN+ |
| 10:15 AM |
Dual 2 |
No. 3 Saint Mary's vs. No. 6 Pacific |
ESPN+ |
| 11:30 AM |
Dual 3 |
No. 2 Pepperdine vs. No. 7 Portland |
ESPN+ |
| 12:45 PM |
Dual 4 |
No. 1 LMU vs. Winner of Dual 1 |
ESPN+ |
| 2:00 PM |
Dual 5 |
Loser of Dual 2 vs. Loser 3 |
ESPN+ |
| 3:15 PM |
Dual 6 |
Winner of Dual 2 vs. Winner of Dual 3 |
ESPN+ |
| 4:30 PM |
Dual 7 |
Loser of Dual 1 vs. Winner of Dual 5 |
ESPN+ |
Friday, April 24
| 8:30 AM |
Dual 8 |
Loser of Dual 4 vs. Winner of Dual 7 |
ESPN+ |
| 9:45 AM |
Dual 9 |
Winner of Dual 4 vs. Winner of Dual 6 |
ESPN+ |
| 11:00 AM |
Dual 10 |
Loser of Dual 6 vs. Winner of Dual 8 |
ESPN+ |
| 12:15 PM |
Dual 11 |
Loser of Dual 9 vs. Winner of Dual 10 |
ESPN+ |
| 1:30 PM |
Dual 12 (Championship) |
Winner of Dual 9 vs. Winner of Dual 11 |
ESPN+ |