SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team suffered two close setbacks on Wednesday, narrowly falling to both Utah and host Cal Poly by identical scores of 3-2 at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex.
vs. UTAH
The Broncos (2-4) started their afternoon facing the Utes (4-8). The match was closely contested throughout, with five of 11 sets played decided by only two points, and seven of them by five or less.
Ella Duffner and Elena Radeff played the match's only three-set contest at the No. 2 pairs spot. They won the first set, 22-20, then barely dropped the second in extra points, 24-22. The third set, though, was a blowout, as the duo beat Utah's Grace Andrews and Marissa Koch, 15-5, to take the victory.
Jordan Bennett and Katie Kishton earned a sweep for the Broncos at 4s. They swept the Utes' Sydney Jacinto and Kylie Pitzak, 21-16, 21-12. Their win was the first of the match and gave Santa Clara an early 1-0 lead.
The match swinger was at No. 5, where Savannah Cottam and Sonja Wessel beat SCU's Alexie Epstein and Alexia Gallegos – but barely. The Utes pair got the sweep, but only by a total of four points, winning 21-19, 21-19.
vs. CAL POLY
The Broncos played another close match against the host Mustangs (2-8) in the evening. Santa Clara swept the No. 4 and 5 pairs, and this time the swing pair was at the top.
Nicole Robison and Julia Sangiacomo went three sets against Cal Poly's top pair of Piper Ferch and Izzy Martinez, narrowly dropping the first set, 21-19, then evening it with a 21-12 win in the second. Ferch and Martinez would prevail in the third, 15-9.
Bennett and Kishton grabbed their second sweep of the day at the No. 4 spot, outlasting Cal Poly's Julia Soeller and Emma Zuffaleto, 24-22, in the first set, and finishing it off, 21-18, in the second. Epstein teamed with Hayley Hahn and No. 5s to sweep Susie Lloyd and Margo Smith, 21-13, 21-17.
COMING UP
The Broncos return to the South Bay on Saturday to play in three matches at West Valley College. The action begins at 10 a.m. Saturday with Santa Clara facing Feather River College, Cabrillo College and host West Valley College, all at West Valley College's Beach Volleyball Complex.
Utah 3, Santa Clara 2
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex – San Luis Obispo, Calif.
March 8, 2023
1. Katie McAlister/Amaya Messier (UTAH) def. Nicole Robison/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU), 22-20, 21-13
2. Ella Duffner/Elena Radeff (SCU) def. Grace Andrews/Marissa Koch (UTAH), 22-20, 22-24, 15-5
3. Abby Karich/Bella Vezzani (UTAH) def. Casey Campbell/Claire Doud (SCU), 21-17, 21-14
4. Jordan Bennett/Katie Kishton (SCU) def. Sydney Jacinto/Kylie Pitzak (UTAH) 21-16, 21-12
5. Savannah Cottam/Sonja Wessel (UTAH) def. Alexie Epstein/Alexia Gallegos (SCU) 21-19, 21-19
Order of finish: 4, 3, 1, 5, 2
Cal Poly 3, Santa Clara 2
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex – San Luis Obispo, Calif.
March 8, 2023
1. Piper Ferch/Izzy Martinez (CP) def. Robison/Sangiacomo (SCU), 21-19, 12-21, 15-9
2. Jayelin Lombard/Piper Naess (CP) def. Duffner/Radeff (SCU), 21-10, 21-9
3. Brooke Golik/Delaney Peranich (CP) def. Campbell/Doud (SCU), 21-14, 21-8
4. Bennett/Kishton (SCU) def. Julia Soeller/Emma Zuffelato (CP), 24-22, 21-18
5. Epstein/Hayley Hahn (SCU) def. Susie Lloyd/Margo Smith (CP), 21-13, 21-17
Order of finish: 2, 5, 3, 4, 1
