Beach Volleyball Dispatches Sacramento State for First Win of Season

Erin Reineking (pictured) and Michelle Gajdka won all four sets by at least six points on Saturday at the No. 5 position.
Erin Reineking (pictured) and Michelle Gajdka won all four sets by at least six points on Saturday at the No. 5 position.

STANFORD, Calif. — Santa Clara beach volleyball began Saturday's action at the Stanford Bay Area Kickoff with a strong start. The Broncos posted their first victory of the young 2018 season by downing Sacramento State 3-2 at Stanford Sand Volleyball Stadium. 

The team finished up competition in the event with a 4-1 loss at the hands of No. 19 Saint Mary's in the afternoon. Santa Clara went 1-3 between Friday and Saturday. 

Tessie Powers/Ngozi Nwabuzoh (No. 3), Tatiana San Juan/Allison Kantor (No. 4), Erin Reineking/Michelle Gajdka (No. 5) each posted sweep victories in their respective duals for the Broncos (1-3) over the Hornets (0-3). Powers and Nwabuzoh scored their third straight victory after winning duals against Pacific and San Francisco on Friday. 

In the afternoon tilt, Reineking and Gajdka made it a perfect day by posting a sweep against the Gaels (4-1). San Juan and Kantor battled at No. 4 and took their second matchup of the day to three sets. 

RESULTS 

SANTA CLARA 3 SACRAMENTO STATE 2 

No. 1 - Brie Gathright/Kennedy Kurtz (CSUS) def. Kirsten Mead/Taylor Odom (SCU) 21-19, 21-17

No. 2 - Sarah Davis/Mikaela Nocetti (CSUS) def. Hailey Lindberg/Gretchen Reinert (SCU) 23-21, 22-20

No. 3 - Tessie Powers/Ngozi Nwabuzoh (SCU) def. Lana Brown/Hannah Meadows (CSUS) 22-20, 21-16

No. 4 - Tatiana San Juan/Allison Kantor (SCU) def. Sarah Falk/Skyler Takeda (CSUS) 21-15, 21-16

No. 5 - Erin Reineking/Michelle Gajdka (SCU) def. Brigitte Murdock/Ashtin Olin (CSUS) 21-12, 21-15

NO. 19 SAINT MARY'S 4 SANTA CLARA 1

No. 1 - Emily Bible/Lindsey Knudsen (SMC) def. Kirsten Mead/Taylor Odom (SCU) 21-14, 21-9

No. 2 - Morgan Hughes/Payton Rund (SMC) def. Hailey Lindberg/Gretchen Reinert (SCU) 21-7, 21-5

No. 3 - Sarah Chase/Mary Hernandez (SMC) def. Tessie Powers/Ngozi Nwabuzoh (SCU) 21-12, 21-12

No. 4 - Madi Wilkerson/Sienna Young (SMC) def. Tatiana San Juan/Allison Kantor (SCU) 21-19, 15-21, 15-11

No. 5 - Erin Reineking/Michelle Gajdka (SCU) def. Jennifer Laird/Morgan Kendrick (SMC) 21-11, 21-13

NEXT UP

The Broncos head to nearby West Valley College next Tuesday, March 6, for a 2 p.m. first serve.

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