The UCLA Bruins are back on top of the beach volleyball world. In a dominant performance that harkened back to their championship glory days, the third-seeded Bruins swept top-seeded Stanford 3-0 on Sunday to capture their third NCAA beach volleyball title in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

This victory marks UCLA's first championship since they won back-to-back titles in 2018-19, and it was a statement win that left no doubt about who the best team was this season. The duo of Sally Perez and Maggie Boyd sealed the deal, clinching the championship with a straight-sets victory over Stanford's Kelly Belardi and Avery Jackson (21-11, 21-19).

The Bruins came out firing from the very first match. Kaley Mathews and Ensley Alden set the tone early, cruising past Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sorra with a commanding 21-16, 21-11 win. Then came the day's most thrilling contest, as Ava Williamson and Jesse Dueck battled through a tense second set to outlast Indigo Clarke and Clara Stowell 21-17, 25-23, putting UCLA up 2-0.

With the pressure mounting, the tandems of Alexa Fernandez and Harper Cooper, along with Kenzie Brower and Mallory LaBreche, were well on their way to victories when Perez and Boyd finished the job, making those matches unnecessary but no less impressive.

For head coach Jenny Johnson Jordan, who took over the program in 2023, this championship is a crowning achievement in her young tenure. She follows in the footsteps of Stein Metzger, who led the Bruins to their first two titles. The victory also adds another chapter to UCLA's rich beach volleyball legacy, though they still trail USC's six championships since the event began in 2016.

Stanford, who entered the final with an impressive 39-4 record, was seeking their first-ever NCAA beach volleyball title. The Cardinal advanced to the championship match by defeating No. 5 Florida State 3-1 in the semifinals. Meanwhile, TCU broke USC's four-year championship streak last season, defeating Loyola Marymount for the title, as the tournament was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic.

For UCLA fans, this championship feels like a return to form—and a reminder that the Bruins' beach volleyball dynasty is far from over.