SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team earned a split Saturday on the first day of the West Coast Challenge, sweeping San Francisco, 5-0, and suffering a 5-0 setback versus No. 18 Pepperdine at Main Beach.
vs. SAN FRANCISCO
The Broncos (7-5) extended their win streak to five straight – all with perfect 5-0 sweeps – with their first match of the day. It was a sweep through and through of the Dons (0-15), as all five Broncos pairs won, 2-0. Nicole Robison and Julia Sangiacomo made easy work of San Francisco's top pair, Letizia Aquilino and McKenna Towne, 21-17, 21-15. Alexie Epstein and Hayley Hahn earned Santa Clara's largest point difference in a set at the No. 5 pairs spot, beating Isadora Nicolai and Sophia Solomon, 21-13, 21-19.
vs. No. 18 PEPPERDINE
The Broncos ran into their first nationally ranked opponent of the season in No. 18 Pepperdine during their afternoon match. Pepperdine (10-3) would sweep both of their matches on Saturday, including a 5-0 win over Santa Clara.
Robison and Sangiacomo pushed the Waves' top pair of Alexus McLeod and McKenna Thomas to three sets. They won the second set, 21-18, to even the match at 1-1 before narrowly falling in the decisive third set, 15-12. Ella Duffner and Elena Radeff were also competitive at No. 3 pairs, pushing Gracie Pedersen and Jasmin Suarez to extra points in the first set, 24-22, before falling 21-10 in the second.
COMING UP
Santa Clara faces LMU at 9 a.m. Sunday on the final day of the West Coast Classic. The winner goes to the finals of the gold bracket, while the loser will play at 1 p.m. to determine the third or fourth seed in the same gold bracket. Win, and the Broncos will play at 2 p.m.
Santa Clara 5, San Francisco 0
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 25, 2023
1. Nicole Robison/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) def. Letizia Aquilino/McKenna Towne (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-15
2. Casey Campbell/Katie Kishton (SCU) def. Claire Crijns/Branson Lennon (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-15
3. Ella Duffner/Elena Radeff (SCU) def. Francesca Stanschus/Rainie Stevens (USF) 2-0: 21-16, 21-19
4. Jordan Bennett/Claire Doud (SCU) def. Jolie Gutierrez/Anna Petrova (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-17
5. Alexie Epstein/Hayley Hahn (SCU) def. Isadora Nicolai/Sophia Solomon (USF), 2-0: 21-13, 21-19
#18 Pepperdine 5, Santa Clara 0
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 25, 2023
1. Alexus McLeod/McKenna Thomas (PEP) def. Robison/Sangiacomo (SCU) 2-1: 21-16, 18-21, 15-12
2. Kate Clermont/Savannah Standage (PEP) def. Campbell/Kishton (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 21-12
3. Gracie Pedersen/Jasmin Suarez (PEP) def. Duffner/Radeff (SCU) 2-0: 24-22, 21-10
4. Gracey Campbell/Gabriella Perez (PEP) def. Bennett/Doud (SCU) 2-0: 21-17, 21-16
5. Kristine Briede/Madison Oriskovich (PEP) def. Epstein/Hahn (SCU), 2-0: 21-12, 21-11