SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team advanced to Friday's championship day of the 2023 West Coast Conference Tournament with two victories on Thursday in the championship's opening rounds at Ocean Park Beach.
The Broncos (17-15) earned two perfect sweeps, beating Portland (5-17), 5-0, in the first match of the tournament, then ending the day with a 5-0 sweep of San Francisco (3-26) to advance to Friday. A 5-0 setback to tournament top seed and No. 5-ranked LMU in the middle of the day put the Broncos in the consolation bracket.
Santa Clara will face Saint Mary's at 9 a.m. Friday for a chance to reach the tournament semifinals. Fans can find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
The Broncos beat Portland with five straight-set sweeps. Alexie Epstein and Hailey Benesz were the most dominant in their No. 5 pairs win, beating Sophie Lee and Kei Mumolo, 21-12, 21-10. They also took down the Dons with five straight-set sweeps. Ella Duffner and Elena Radeff cruised to victory at No. 2 pairs, beating Claire Crijns and Branson Lennon, 21-10, 21-8.
No. 5 LMU had four straight-set sweeps in its 5-0 win over Santa Clara. Nicole Robison and Julia Sangiacomo pushed the Lions' top pair to three sets, winning the second, 21-18, to even things up before falling, 15-11, in the third.
Santa Clara 5, Portland 0
Ocean Park Beach – Santa Monica, Calif.
April 27, 2023
1. Nicole Robison/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) def. Annika Stammberger/Alina Valenti (POR) 2-0: 21-10, 21-19
2. Ella Duffner/Elena Radeff (SCU) def. Jayde Harris/Noe Helm (POR) 2-0: 21-19, 22-20
3. Casey Campbell/Katie Kishton (SCU) def. Brodie Baker/Grace Zilbert (POR) 2-0: 21-16, 21-13
4. Jordan Bennett/Claire Doud (SCU) def. Taylor Helle/Elin Larsson (POR) 2-0: 21-16, 21-7
5. Hailey Benesz/Alexie Epstein (SCU) def. Sophie Lee/Kei Mumolo (POR) 2-0: 21-12, 21-10
No. 5 LMU 5, Santa Clara 0
Ocean Park Beach – Santa Monica, Calif.
April 27, 2023
1. Melanie Paul/Valma Prihti (LMU) def. Robison/Sangiacomo (SCU) 2-1: 21-16, 18-21, 15-11
2. Kirstine Garder/Abbey Thorup (LMU) def. Duffner/Radeff (SCU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-17
3. Jacinda Ramirez/Isabelle Reffel (LMU) def. Campbell/Kishton (SCU) 2-0: 21-19, 21-14
4. Cassie Chinn/Chloe Hooker (LMU) def. Bennett/Doud (SCU) 2-0: 21-8, 21-15
5. Madi Firnett/Isabelle Tucker (LMU) def. Benesz/Epstein (SCU): 21-12, 21-13
Santa Clara 5, San Francisco 0
Ocean Park Beach – Santa Monica, Calif.
April 27, 2023
1. Robison/Sangiacomo (SCU) def. Letizia Aquilino/McKenna Towne (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-11
2. Duffner/Radeff (SCU) def. Claire Crijns/Branson Lennon (USF) 2-0: 21-10, 21-8
3. Campbell/Kishton (SCU) def. Jolie Gutierrez/Rylie Reeves (USF) 2-0: 21-10, 21-14
4. Bennett/Doud (SCU) def. Francesca Stanschus/Rainie Stevens (USF) 2-0: 21-19, 21-13
5. Benesz/Epstein (SCU) def. Isadore Nicolai/Sophia Solomon (USF) 2-0: 21-11, 21-16
