STANFORD, Calif. — Santa Clara beach volleyball began its 2017 slate with a pair of defeats Saturday at Stanford Sand Volleyball Stadium. The Broncos dropped a morning match to Saint Mary's 4-1 and had a quick turnaround before being swept by host and 13th-ranked Stanford.
Santa Clara's lone dual win came from the No. 2 pairing of Kirsten Mead and Jensen Cunningham. The junior duo prevailed in a pair of tight sets against Mary Hernandez and Lindsay Calvin (21-15, 21-17). The Bronco No. 5 tandem of Ngozi Nwabuzoh and Erin Reineking scored a 21-17 victory in the second set over Madi Wilkerson and Alex O'Sullivan during the first matchup of the year.
Facing the Cardinal in the second match, the Broncos did not manage a single set victory. Hess/Kantor came the closest by battling Kathryn Plummer/Jenna Gray in the second set, which they ultimately lost 24-22.
RESULTS
SAINT MARY'S 4 SANTA CLARA 1
No. 1 - Lindsey Knudsen/Payton Rund (SMC) def. Nikki Hess/Allison Kantor (SCU); 21-7, 21-11
No. 2 - Kirsten Mead/Jensen Cunningham (SCU) def. Mary Hernandez/Lindsey Calvin (SMC); 21-15, 21-17
No. 3 - Emily Bible/Sarah Chase (SMC) def. Hailey Lindberg/Taylor Laugero (SCU); 21-12, 21-12
No. 4 - Alexis Salmons/Alexsa Parker (SMC) def. Tatiana San Juan/Michelle Gajdka (SCU); 21-15, 21-18
No. 5 - Madi Wilkerson/Alex O'Sullivan (SMC) def. Ngozi Nwabuzoh/Erin Reineking (SCU); 15-21, 21-17, 15-12
Ex. - Dominique Dodd/Sienna Young (SMC) def. Laura Willems/Callie Jones (SCU); 21-10, 21-14
STANFORD 5 SANTA CLARA 0
No. 1 - Kathryn Plummer/Jenna Gray (STAN) def. Nikki Hess/Allison Kantor (SCU); 21-13, 24-22
No. 2 - Ivana Vanjak/Payton Chang (STAN) def. Kirsten Mead/Jensen Cunningham (SCU); 21-9, 21-11
No. 3 - Catherine Raquel/Shannon Richardson (STAN) def. Hailey Lindberg/Taylor Laugero (SCU); 21-18, 21-12
No. 4 - Morgan Hentz/Caitlin Keefe (STAN) def. Tatiana San Juan/Michelle Gajdka (SCU); 21-15, 21-10
No. 5 - Courtney Bowen/Kat Anderson (STAN) def. Ngozi Nwabuzoh/Erin Reineking (SCU); 21-14, 21-15
Ex. - Chelsea Red-Horse Mohl/Jennifer DiSanto (STAN) def. Laura Willems/Callie Jones (SCU); 21-11, 21-19
UP NEXT
Santa Clara returns to the courts Sunday morning for a tilt with West Coast Conference rival Pacific at 9 a.m. and a nightcap against Cal at 3 p.m.
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