We're counting down to the start of the 2017 NCAA beach volleyball season by previewing one of the nation's top programs every day leading up to opening weekend.

So far, we've highlighted Loyola Marymount, Georgia State, and Louisiana State, Long Beach State, Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida State.

Now, it's time to get to know the Bruins of UCLA.

In Short

UCLA's top pair of Megan and Nicole McNamara returns for 2017, along with a solid group of incoming freshmen that could help the Bruins improve on their 2016 results.

Last Season

22-8 overall
Pac-12 Championship Contenders' Bracket Semifinal
NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships Participant
Third in Final 2016 AVCA Poll

The Players

Returning Stars

Nicole McNamara | 5-foot-9 | Sophomore | Vancouver, British Columbia
Megan McNamara | 5-9 | Sophomore | Vancouver, British Columbia
Kamila Tan | 6-0 | Grad Student | San Diego, California
Ivey Schmitt | 5-11 | Junior | Encinitas, California
Izzy Carey | 5-11 | Sophomore | Westlake Village, California
Elize Zappia | 5-8 | Junior | Huntington Beach, California
Reily Buechler | 6-1 | Junior | Del Mar, California

Key Newcomers

Lily Justine | 5-10 | Freshman | Chico, California
Remy Wilson | 6-0 | Freshman | Newport Beach, California
Torrey Van Winden | 6-3 | Freshman | Napa, California
Savvy Simo | 5-10 | Freshman | Rancho Santa Fe, California

Biggest Losses

Zana Muno | 5-10 | Hermosa Beach, California
Julie Consani | 5-10 | Newport Beach, California
Jessyka Nagaumo | 5-11 | Gold Coast, Australia

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Opening Weekend Matches

March 2

11 AM PT vs. Cal State Bakersfield at Pismo Beach
1 PM PT vs. Cal Poly at Pismo Beach

March 4

10 AM PT vs. Pepperdine
11:15 AM PT vs. USC at Pepperdine

Overview

The McNamara twins, Nicole and Megan, held down the No.1 spot at UCLA in 2016 as freshmen, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors and spots on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team as well as AVCA All-American honors. After finishing the season 16-12 as a pair, the McNamaras represented Canada at the 2016 FIVB U21 World Championships, where they won bronze. Now, as sophomores, they'll seek to defend their top spot in the Bruins lineup and play for the Pac-12 and NCAA titles.

Adding to the strength of the 2017 UCLA squad will be a solid group of freshmen that might just make up the best recruiting class in the country. Torrey Van Winden played alongside Sarah Sponcil at the 2016 FIVB U21 World Championships, where the duo lost to the McNamaras in the bronze-medal match. Three members of USA Beach Volleyball's High Performance pipeline also join the Bruins squad this year: Lily Justine, Remy Wilson, and Savvy Simo.