The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team concluded its participation in the Long Beach State Invitational on Saturday with matches against two nationally ranked teams. The Broncos faced No. 14 Stetson and No. 11 Long Beach State at Long Beach City College, competing closely in several sets before ultimately losing both matchups.
In the opening match of the day against Stetson, Santa Clara (8-4) managed to secure one point. Ciara Cantlen and Alexandra Urbina delivered a win at the No. 4 flight, defeating Zoe Flueckiger and Anniina Muukka in three sets, 22–20, 22–24, 15–12.
Other matches against Stetson were also competitive. Avery Cukjati and Teagan Wilson narrowly lost their No. 2 flight match in straight sets, 21–18, 21–19. Mandy Hansen and Noelle Niederman also pushed their opponents at No. 3 but fell short with scores of 21–16 and 21–19. At No. 5, Callie Loughran and Ava Stoddard were defeated by Madeline Camp and Cayla Sutton, who won both sets by small margins.
Santa Clara then played host Long Beach State (7-3), falling by a score of 5-0. Several pairings kept their matches close into late points. At the No. 4 position, Cantlen and Urbina lost a close first set before Long Beach State took the match, while Kawena Chillingworth and Ava Stoddard held their ground at No. 5 but were edged out in both sets.
Santa Clara will next compete at the Mustang Roundup hosted by Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo on Friday and Saturday.
Match results:
No. 14 Stetson defeated Santa Clara, 4-1.
1. Marta Carro/Maria Ozaeta (STET) def. Sadie Snipes/Sammy Wood (SCU) – 21-13, 21-16
2. EJ Cudmore/Julia Radelczuk (STET) def. Avery Cukjati/Teagan Wilson (SCU) – 21-18, 21-19
3. Danielle Hernandez/Lucie Nosalkova (STET) def. Mandy Hansen/Noelle Niederman (SCU) – 21-16, 21-19
4. Ciara Cantlen/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) def. Zoe Flueckiger/Anniina Muukka (STET) – 22-20, 22-24, 15-12
5. Madeline Camp/Cayla Sutton (STET) def. Callie Loughran/Ava Stoddard (SCU) – 21-17, 21-18
No.11 Long Beach State defeated Santa Clara, 5-0.
1. Malia Gementera/Taylor Hagenah (LBSU) def.Snipes/Wood(SCU) –21-15,21-13
2.Tineke Hinton/Demi Wagdy(LBSU)def.Cukjati/Wilson(SCU)–21-18,21-13
3.Kiara Edwards/Savannah Standage(LBSU)def.Hansen/Niederman(SCU)-21-12,21-6
4.Mahala Esser/Victoria Henkel(LBSU)def.Cantlen/Urbina(SCU)-22-20,21-17
5.Nicole Lankton/Sammy Okano(LBSU)def.Kawena Chillingworth/Ava Stoddard(SCU)-21-19,22-20
###
