SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara beach volleyball capped the regular season with a 5-0 defeat against nationally ranked Saint Mary's on Wednesday afternoon. The 20th-ranked Gaels swept the Broncos in a West Coast Conference tilt at the Santa Clara University Beach Volleyball Courts.
The Gaels (14-9, 7-3 WCC) started the day with victories in the first two matchups. Lindsey Knudsen/Emily Bible (No. 2) defeated Anna McCreadie/Gretchen Reinert 21-13, 21-7 to give the visitors the early edge. Santa Clara's Ngozi Nwabuzoh/Tatiana San Juan (No. 4) won the first set of their dual 23-21 and battled in a close third set that Lindsey Calvin/Kelsey Knudsen took 15-12 to make the count 2-0.
Gael tandem Sarah Chase/Mary Hernandez (No. 3) clinched the match win with a 21-14, 21-16 victory over Taylor Odom/Tessie Powers. Saint Mary's won all three meetings against the Broncos this season.
Santa Clara's winningest pair, Erin Reineking/Michelle Gajdka (No. 5), took the first set past 20 points and kept their dual close in a 22-20, 21-14 defeat against Jennifer Laird/Morgan Kendrick. Payton Rund/Morgan Hughes (No. 1) finished the Saint Mary's sweep with a 21-11, 21-16 decision over Kirsten Mead/Hailey Lindberg.
RESULTS
No. 1 – Payton Rund/Morgan Hughes (SMC) def. Kirsten Mead/Hailey Lindberg (SCU) 21-11, 21-16
No. 2 – Lindsey Knudsen/Emily Bible (SMC) def. Anna McCreadie/Gretchen Reinert (SCU) 21-13, 21-7
No. 3 – Sarah Chase/Mary Hernandez (SMC) def. Taylor Odom/Tessie Powers (SCU) 21-14, 21-16
No. 4 – Lindsey Calvin/Kelsey Knudsen (SMC) def. Ngozi Nwabuzoh/Tatiana San Juan (SCU) 21-23, 21-11, 15-12
No. 5 – Jennifer Laird/Morgan Kendrick (SMC) def. Erin Reineking/Michelle Gajdka (SCU) 22-20, 21-14
Order of Finish: 2, 4, 3*, 5, 1
* = Clinched Match
NEXT UP
The Broncos head to Santa Monica, California's Ocean Park Beach for the West Coast Conference Championship April 20-21.
