SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Santa Clara beach volleyball started off its 2021 season with a dual victory and finished with a split on Thursday at the WCC Midseason Invitational. The Broncos topped Pacific 4-1 before falling to Saint Mary's 4-1 at Santa Cruz Main Beach.
Santa Clara's win over Pacific marked its first season-opening dual triumph in the last five years, dating back to a 5-0 sweep of Portland on March 10, 2016.
The Broncos (1-1, 1-1 WCC) won at flights one (Michelle Shaffer/Julia Sangiacomo), two (Claire Doud/Kathryn Decker) and four (Elizabeth Held/Nani Spaar) in straight sets over the Tigers (1-3, 0-2), with each match featuring one set that went past the 21-point mark. Alexia Gallegos/Gretchen Reinert rallied after a close first set at the No. 5 position to capture the next two frames decisively for an 18-21, 21-11, 15-8 win.
Jordan Bennett/Alex Anthony took home the matchup at the No. 3 spot against the Gaels (4-4, 3-0), topping Jennifer "Boo" Laird/Morgan Kendrick 21-19, 22-24, 17-15.
"I'm very proud of our team today," associate head coach Jeff Alzina said. "Half of our student-athletes had only three days total of practice after finishing the indoor season on Saturday night. Our pairs had great chemistry, energy and discipline to efficiently beat Pacific. We were competitive versus Saint Mary's and look forward to playing them again after three weeks of practice."
SANTA CLARA 4 PACIFIC 1
1. Michelle Shaffer/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) def. Hanne De Schrijver/Sedona Sherman (PAC) 21-17, 22-20
2. Claire Doud/Kathryn Decker (SCU) def. Gabby Leo/Alexa Edwards (PAC) 21-18, 22-20
3. Jadyn Tubbs/Jenny Todd (PAC) def. Jordan Bennett/Alex Anthony (SCU) 12-21, 21-11, 15-12
4. Elizabeth Held/Nani Spaar (SCU) def. Hania Taduran/Lucy Carpenter (PAC) 25-23, 21-18
5. Alexia Gallegos/Gretchen Reinert (SCU) def. Claire Danna/Sammie Sheppard (PAC) 18-21, 21-11, 15-8
EX. Natalia Rentsch/Maeve Davitt tie Illyria Kalaj/Miranda Baptista (PAC) 21-16 SCU, 21-17 PAC
SAINT MARY'S 4 SANTA CLARA 1
1. Alexsa "Crash" Parker/Hawley Harrer (SMC) def. Michelle Shaffer/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) 15-21, 21-11, 15-10
2. Chandler Cowell/Elena Baka (SMC) def. Claire Doud/Kathryn Decker (SCU) 21-7, 21-13
3. Jordan Bennett/Alex Anthony (SCU) def. Jennifer "Boo" Laird/Morgan Kendrick (SMC) 21-19, 22-24, 17-15
4. Aeriel Sundt/Trinity Durfee (SMC) def. Alexia Gallegos/Gretchen Reinert (SCU) 21-17, 21-19
5. Makenna Joyce/Selbie Christensen (SMC) def. Elizabeth Held/Nani Spaar (SCU) 21-18, 21-13
EX. Karmin Brown/Sienna Young (SMC) def. Kat Georgiadis/Elena Radeff (SCU) 21-9, 21-16
NEXT UP
The Broncos finish up the competition Friday with duals against No. 5 LMU at 10 a.m. and San Francisco at 2 p.m.
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