SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Santa Clara beach volleyball team faced two nationally ranked teams Sunday on the final day of the West Coast Classic, falling to No. 7 LMU, 5-0, and grabbing a point against No. 18 Pepperdine in a 4-1 setback at Main Beach.
vs. No. 7 LMU
The Broncos (7-7) were looking to set themselves up for a title push in the gold bracket Sunday morning, facing the No. 7 Lions (16-1) for a top spot. LMU earned the 5-0 sweep, taking four pairs in straight sets. Nicole Robison and Julia Sangiacomo pushed LMU's top pair of Melanie Paul and Vilhelmiina Prihti to three sets, winning the second, 21-15 after falling in the opener, 21-17. Paul and Prihti held off the No. 1 Broncos pair with a 15-12 triumph in the third and deciding set.
Casey Campbell and Katie Kishton nearly forced their match at No. 2 pairs to a third set, forcing LMU's Alisha Stevens and Abbey Thorup to extra points in the second before falling, 24-22.
vs. No. 18 PEPPERDINE
Santa Clara's afternoon match was a rematch of Saturday's afternoon affair, pitting the Waves (11-4) against the Broncos for third place in the gold bracket. Santa Clara pushed the Waves even more Sunday than it had 24 hours earlier, taking a pair and pushing another to three sets.
Jordan Bennett and Claire Doud were triumphant at No. 4 pairs, beating Pepperdine's Gracey Campbell and Gabriella Perez in three sets. They won the first set, 21-17, to take a 1-0 match lead before Campbell and Perez evened it with a 21-14 win in set two. Bennett and Doud clinched the victory with a tight, 15-13 win in the third set.
COMING UP
Santa Clara next travels to Tucson, Ariz., on Friday and Saturday for the Wildcat Spring Challenge, hosted by the University of Arizona.
No. 7 LMU 5, Santa Clara 0
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 26, 2023
1. Melanie Paul/Vilhelmiina Prihti (LMU) def. Nicole Robison/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) 2-1: 21-17, 15-21, 15-12
2. Alisha Stevens/Abbey Thorup (LMU) def. Casey Campbell/Katie Kishton (SCU) 2-0: 21-14, 24-22
3. Chloe Hooker/Isabelle Reffel (LMU) def. Ella Duffner/Elena Radeff (SCU) 2-0: 21-8, 21-14
4. Cassie Chinn/Jacinda Ramirez (LMU) def. Jordan Bennett/Claire Doud (SCU) 2-0: 21-14, 21-13
5. Madi Firnett/Isabelle Tucker (LMU) def. Alexie Epstein/Hayley Hahn (SCU) 2-0: 21-10, 21-18
No. 18 Pepperdine 4, Santa Clara 1
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 26, 2023
1. Alexus McLeod/McKenna Thomas (PEP) def. Robison/Sangiacomo (SCU) 2-1: 21-15, 15-21, 15-13
2. Kate Clermont/Savannah Standage (PEP) def. Campbell/Kishton (SCU) 2-0: 21-11, 21-9
3. Gracie Pedersen/Jasmin Suarez (PEP) def. Duffner/Radeff (SCU) 2-0: 21-14, 21-11
4. Bennett/Doud (SCU) def. Gracey Campbell/Gabriella Perez (PEP) 2-1: 21-17, 14-21, 15-13
5. Kristine Briede/Madison Oriskovich (PEP) def. Epstein/Hahn (SCU), 2-0: 21-10, 21-15