HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Jordan Bennett and Nicole Robison represented the Santa Clara University beach volleyball team over the weekend at the 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association Fall Pairs National Championship, one of the year's premiere events in the sport, at the John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex.
Bennett and Robison competed in six matches over three days, including multiple matches against pairs from top-20 ranked programs. The Broncos duo concluded their weekend on a high note Sunday, beating the pair of Chloee McDaniel and Tristin Smith from Austin Peay in three games, 21-16, 19-21, 15-13.
Bennett and Robison nearly had another victory on Saturday, falling to UNC Wilmington's Sadie Sharkey and Grace Sistrunk in three games after winning the first. The SCU team won the opening game, 21-19 before dropping the second, 21-15, and the third, 15-11. The Broncos pushed Arizona State's Taryn Ames and Lexi Sweeney early Saturday, falling in two games, 21-14 and a close 21-18 in game two.
Santa Clara's twosome played in three highly competitive matches to kick the tournament off on Friday. It started with a match against No. 3 UCLA's Maggie Boyd and Lexy Denaburg (L, 21-12, 21-11) in pool play. They also faced Rorianna Chartier and Sierra Land from Boise State (L, 21-13, 21-16), and No. 16 Florida International's Lucie Pokorna and Alice Pratesi. Bennett and Robison challenged Pokorna and Pratesi, winning the first game and going to extra points in the second before falling 22-20. FIU's duo would take the match with a 15-9 win in the third.
Bennett and Robison only played once together last season, teaming up at No. 2 pairs. Individually, Bennett played at No. 2 pairs four times in 2022 with a 3-1 record. Robison played three times at the No. 1 spot, posting a 3-0 record. She also posted a 4-6 record at the No. 2 slot.
