LEXINGTON, Ky., — The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) named Jose Loiola as the AVCA National Assistant Beach Coach of the Year on Thursday.

Loiola just completed his second season as an assistant with the UCLA beach volleyball team in 2025, helping the Bruins earn a No. 1 seed in this weekend’s NCAA Championship.

• Loiola and the Bruins arrive in Gulf Shores as the top seed in the NCAA Championship after going 30-6 during the 2025 season.
• This is the beach volleyball Hall of Famer‘s second year as an assistant under Bruin Head Coach Jenny Johnson Jordan.
• He has helped the Bruins to the No. 1 ranking in the AVCA Beach Poll in seven of the 11 weeks this season.
• The 2025 UCLA team had four players earn AVCA All-American honors: Maggie Boyd, Peri Brennan, Natalie Myszkowski, and Sally Perez.
• This is Loiola‘s first AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year award.

UCLA Head Coach Jenny Johnson Jordan also earned this distinction in 2019.

The Bruins open NCAA Tournament play tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. PT/10:00 a.m. CT against 16th-seeded Chattanooga on ESPN2.

AVCA COLLEGIATE BEACH NATIONAL ASSISTANT COACHES OF THE YEAR

2018: Marcio Sicoli, Pepperdine University

2019: Jenny Johnson Jordan, UCLA

2021: Majo Orellana, Texas Christian University

2022: Steve Grotowski, Florida Atlantic University

2023: Gustavo Rocha, University of Southern California

2024: Angela Rock, Cal Poly

2025: Jose Loiola, UCLA

Ben Bakshian will study neuroscience at the university in Westwood. (photo courtesy of BHUSD)

Beverly Hills High School announced that Ben Bakshian, a member of the class of 2025, will be attending the University of California, Los Angeles. Bakshian will major in neuroscience at one of the top public universities in the nation.

Bakshian’s time at BHHS has been defined by excellence, balance and ambition. Whether in the classroom, in leadership or athletics, he made the most of every hour. He challenged himself with a demanding schedule of AP courses, completed four levels of French and spent three years in the Medical Science Academy, ultimately serving as MSA co-president.

Beyond academics, Bakshian’s leadership and service set an example. He founded the BHHS club Generation SOS, supporting students in conversations around substance abuse prevention and served as co-vice president of DECA, empowering young entrepreneurs. Bakshian was also a varsity athlete on the water polo and swim teams and found time to pursue his passion for creativity through the culinary arts program.

Bakshian’s BHUSD journey began in sixth grade at Hawthorne Elementary and continued through BVMS to BHHS.

“Ben is the kind of student who lifts every environment he’s part of,” BHHS Principal Drew Stewart said. “His intellect, leadership and heart have made BHHS a better place, and we can’t wait to see the incredible impact he’ll have at UCLA and beyond.”

For information, visit bhusd.org.

SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
FIRST ROUND

DIVISION 1
Pool A
#1 Mira Costa d. #5 Beckman, 25-16, 28-26, 25-18

#4 Corona del Mar d. #8 San Clemente, 26-24, 25-18, 25-21

Pool B
#2 Huntington Beach d. #6 Newport Harbor, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21

#3 Loyola d. #7 Redondo Union, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21

DIVISION 2
Mater Dei d. Woodbridge, 25-17, 25-16, 25-16

Edison d. San Juan Hills, 3-1

El Segundo d. West Ranch, 3-2

St. Francis d. JSerra, 25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-13

St. Margaret’s d. Fountain Valley, 26-24, 25-13, 25-19

Burbank Burroughs d. Servite, 3-2

Peninsula d. St. John Bosco, 3-2

Santa Margarita d. Northwood, 26-24, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21

DIVISION 4
Woodcrest Christian, bye

Corona Santiago d. Palos Verdes, 3-1

Crescenta Valley d. Roosevelt, 25-13, 25-22, 23-25, 25-18

Westlake d. St. Anthony, 3-1

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame d. Malibu, 3-1

Western d. Downey, 25-13, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20

Santa Barbara d. Elsinore, 3-0

Santa Ana Foothill d. Beaumont, 25-19, 25-22, 25-12

Dos Pueblos, bye

Fontana d. Westminster, 25-14, 25-18, 18-25, 25-13

Thousand Oaks d. Western Christian, 23-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-17, 15-9

Crean Lutheran d. Riverside Poly, 19-25, 25-23, 28-26, 25-23

Pasadena Poly d. Troy, 3-2

Sage Hill d. Hillcrest, 3-0

Long Beach Wilson d. Godinez, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23

Royal, bye

DIVISION 6
St. Monica d. Liberty, 3-1

Rio Hondo Prep d. Etiwanda, 3-2

Leuzinger d. Los Altos, 3-2

Quartz Hill d. Foothill Tech, 3-1

Village Christian d. Fullerton, 28-26, 13-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-10

Corona Centennial d. Savanna, 25-11, 25-17, 25-21

Oxford Academy d. Tarbut V’Torah, 25-13, 25-16, 25-18

Westminster La Quinta d. Salesian, 25-22, 26-24, 25-23

Rancho Cucamonga d. Bell Gardens, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, 26-24

OC Pacifica Christian d. Cerritos, 25-15, 25-14, 25-21

Laguna Blanca d. Ramona, 3-0

La Canada d. Culver City, 25-16, 25-23, 28-26

Anaheim d. Montebello, 3-0

Yucaipa d. Sonora, 3-0

Norwalk d. Millikan, 23-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-18, 15-9

El Toro d. Perris, 25-14, 25-10, 25-21

DIVISION 8
Lancaster Desert Christian d. Santa Rosa Academy, 25-17, 25-20, 25-27, 25-18

Miller d. Chaffey, 25-21, 25-21, 28-26

Carpinteria d. Los Amigos, 3-0

Montclair d. Desert Hot Springs, 3-0

Highland d. Oakwood, 3-0

Katella d. La Mirada, 22-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-21

San Luis Obispo Classical at Nuview Bridge, Thursday at 4 p.m.

Southlands Christian d. Ayala, 3-1

Channel Islands d. Coastal Christian, 25-10, 25-18, 25-10

Magnolia d. Lynwood, 25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21

Wildwood d. Colony, 25-16, 27-25, 25-16

Century d. Summit, 21-25, 27-25, 26-24, 25-21

Trinity Classical Academy d. Pacific Lutheran, 25-17, 25-23, 25-19

Alta Loma d. Le Lycée, 25-20, 25-23, 24-26, 25-22

Orange Vista d. Ganesha, 25-10, 25-15, 23-25, 25-15

Avalon vs. Santa Monica Pacifica Christian, Thursday at St. Bernard

DIVISION 9
Acaciawood Academy d. EF Academy, 3-0

Two Grand Canyon beach volleyball players received All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors Thursday, the sister duo of Becca Drake and Jessica Drake. 

The pair found much season success, going 24-5 together playing majority of their matches at the number three pair where they were 20-3 together. The sisters secured MPSF Pair of the Week on Mar. 25 after defeating ranked LSU, Texas, Georgia State and FIU. 

Jessica Drake, All-MPSF Second Team

Jess, a redshirt-junior, tallied a season record of 25-7 on the year raising her career record to 65 wins passing GCU legends Molley Turner (now Shaw) and Teagan DeFalco on the all-time wins list. 

Jess went 2-1 on the 2’s court, 21-5 on the 3’s court and 2-1 on the 4’s court during the 2025 season. 

Drake was named to the CCSA All-Conference team last season and adds another accolade after winning 11 ranked matches. 

Becca Drake, All-MPSF Second Team

Becca, a sophomore, tallied a season record of 25-8 on the year after going 3-7 during her freshman season. 

Becca went 2-3 on the 2’s court, 20-3 on the 3’s court, 2-1 on the 4’s court and 1-1 on the 5’s court during the 2025 season. 

Drake was named to the CCSA All-Freshman team last season after a ranked win against No. 8 LSU and adds another accolade after picking up 10 ranked wins. 

DALLAS – FIU Beach Volleyball standouts Brianna Luoma and Katarina Drozd have been recognized on the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Postseason Awards list, with Luoma being named Freshman of the Year.

The freshman Luoma made an immediate impact in her debut collegiate season, securing a starting spot in FIU’s lineup. The Florida native posted a strong overall record of 19-11, going 5-3 on court three and 7-4 across courts four and five. Most of her success came alongside the sophomore Drozd, with the duo compiling a 19-10 record together and earning eight wins over ranked opponents. Their victories included matches against then-ranked No. 13 Georgia State, No. 16 Florida Atlantic, No. 14 Washington, No. 12 Florida Atlantic, No. 7 Cal, No. 11 Arizona State, No. 13 Grand Canyon, No. 9 Cal, and No. 9 Long Beach State.

Drozd, a native of Toronto, also made headlines by setting an NCAA record for the most points scored in a single set this season, winning an epic 39-37 set two over then-No. 1 UCLA with Maria Vinatea Sanchez.

The pair went undefeated (3-0) in the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championships, defeating six-seed Missouri State, five-seed UTEP, and four-seed UAB.

Luoma was named CUSA Freshman of the Year and earned spots on both the All-CUSA First Team and All-CUSA Freshman Team. Drozd, who also finished the season with a 19-11 record (5-2 on court three, 7-5 on court four and 7-4 on court five), joined Luoma on the All-CUSA First Team.

SOCIAL MEDIA 

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