Beach Volleyball's Run in the WCC Tournament Ends in the Semifinals

Broncos celebrate after defeating Saint Mary's to advance to the WCC Tournament semifinals.

Posted: Apr 30, 2022

WCC CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | DAY 2 RESULTS

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Santa Clara beach volleyball's run in the West Coast Conference Championship ended in the semifinals on Saturday, losing 3-2 to No. 2 seed Pepperdine on the Ocean Park Beach Courts.

The fourth-seeded Broncos advanced to the semifinal round when they defeated third-seeded Saint Mary's 3-2 in the morning session. It was the second win over the Gaels this season after not beating them in nearly seven years entering the 2022 season.

Pepperdine awaited the Broncos next but the nationally ranked Waves took the first three matches to advance to the championship match against top-seeded LMU.

MATCH 1: #4 seed Santa Clara 3 – #3 seed Saint Mary's 2

With the match between Santa Clara (13-18) and Saint Mary's (16-18) knotted at 2-all, the No. 3 pairs of Alexia Inman and Claire Doud secured the match for the Broncos with a three set win over Makenna Joyce/Karmin Brown 15-21, 21-17, 15-13.

The two schools split the first two matches with Santa Clara winning at No. 1 and Saint Mary's at No. 2. The Gaels gained the upperhand 2-1 with a victory at No. 4. All three matches up to that point were straight set decisions.

With their backs against the wall, the No. 5 pairs of Jordan Bennett and Alexia Gallegos came back from a set down to defeat Ella Sandt and Genevieve Bane 18-21, 21-16, 15-8 to even the match at 2-all on the team scoreboard.

1. Julia Sangiacomo/Michelle Shaffer (SCUBVB) def. Chandler Cowell/Selbie Christensen (SMC) 21-15, 21-19
2. Jasmin Suarez/Jennifer Laird (SMC) def. Elena Radeff/Alexie Epstein (SCUBVB) 21-15, 21-5
3. Alexia Inman/Claire Doud (SCUBVB) def. Makenna Joyce/Karmin Brown (SMC) 15-21, 21-17, 15-13
4. Aeriel Sundt/Hawley Harrer (SMC) def. Sophia Tulino/Casey Campbell (SCUBVB) 21-12, 21-17
5. Jordan Bennett/Alexia Gallegos (SCUBVB) def. Ella Sandt/Genevieve Bane (SMC) 18-21, 21-16, 15-8

Match Notes
Santa Clara 13-18
Saint Mary's 16-18
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,4,5,3);

MATCH 2: #2 seed Pepperdine 3 – #4 seed Santa Clara 2

Second-seeded Pepperdine, who entered the tournament ranked 16th nationally, took three of the five first sets at the top three pairs of the lineup and built upon that with straight set victories in those spots to defeat Santa Clara, 3-2. The matches at No. 4 and 5 were forfeited by the Waves.

The clincher came at No. 3 courtesy of Juju Quintero and Peyton Lewis. The Pepperdine duo defeated Inman and Doud 21-13, 22-20.

The Broncos won three matches in the tournament, staving off two elimination matches against Portland on Friday and Saint Mary's on Saturday to finish the year with 13 wins, the most ever in program history.

1. Paul, Melanie/Shields, Madison (PEP) def. Julia Sangiacomo/Michelle Shaffer (SCUBVB) 21-19, 21-12
2. Priebe, Simone/Thomas, McKenna (PEP) def. Elena Radeff/Alexie Epstein (SCUBVB) 21-11, 21-15
3. Quintero, Juju/Lewis, Peyton (PEP) def. Alexia Inman/Claire Doud (SCUBVB) 21-13, 22-20
4. Sophia Tulino/Casey Campbell (SCUBVB) def. Clermont, Kate/Sinclair, Mary (PEP) 21-19, 19-21, forfeited by Pepperdine
5. Jordan Bennett/Alexia Gallegos (SCUBVB) def. Greene, Savana/Frohoff, Rio (PEP) 21-15, 14-21, forfeited by Pepperdine

Match Notes
Santa Clara 13-19
Pepperdine 22-11; National ranking #16
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3,4,5);
Pepperdine clinched at No.3 and forfeited at No. 4 & 5.

NEXT UP

The Broncos have completed the 2022 season.

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