SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team stretched its winning streak to four matches Saturday with two wins on the road at Sacramento State's "Beach Bash," beating Concordia, 3-2, in a neutral site contest and topping host Sacramento State, 4-1, at Hornet Beach.
vs. CONCORDIA
Santa Clara (10-8) topped the Golden Eagles (13-13) by taking each of the Nos. 3 through 5 pairs. Ella Duffner and Katie Kishton swept Isabella Bush and Makena Houston, 2-0 (21-19, 21-10), at No. 3 pairs. Jordan Bennett and Claire Doud also swept at the No. 4 spot, beating Kelissa Lemoine and Eva Prewitt, 22-20, 21-17.
Hailey Benesz and Alexie Epstein clinched the team win for the Broncos with a come-from-behind, three-set triumph at No. 5 pairs. They narrowly fell in the first set, 21-19, then won the second set in extra points, 27-25, before taking the match in the third, 15-10.
vs. SACRAMENTO STATE
Santa Clara won all but the No. 2 pairs against host Sacramento State (4-10) in the afternoon, and even that spot took three sets to decide.
Nicole Robison and Julia Sangiacomo rebounded from a morning defeat against Concordia to sweep the Hornets' Kalani Hayes and Bridgette Smith, 21-13 and 28-26, at the No. 1 spot.
Duffner and Kishton (No. 3), Bennett and Doud (No. 4) and Benesz and Epstein (No. 5) all made it a two-victory day with wins at their respective pairs spots. All three won via sweeps against Sacramento State. Benesz and Epstein were the most dominant, topping Hailey Plugge and Caty Cordano, 21-15 and 21-9.
COMING UP
The Broncos play another two-match day on Saturday in the Capitol Area, heading over to UC Davis to face Boise State and the host Aggies in the afternoon.
Santa Clara 3, Concordia 2
Hornet Beach – Sacramento, Calif.
April 7, 2023
1. Sara Ostojic/Hannah Phair (CUI) def. Nicole Robison/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) 2-0: 21-17, 21-19
2. Tatum Smith/Hailee Ryan (CUI) def. Casey Campbell/Elena Radeff (SCU) 2-0: 21-13, 21-17
3. Ella Duffner/Katie Kishton (SCU) def. Isabella Bush/Makena Houston (CUI) 2-0: 21-19, 21-10
4. Jordan Bennett/Claire Doud (SCU) def. Kelissa Lemoine/Eva Prewitt (CUI) 2-0: 22-20, 21-17
5. Hailey Benesz/Alexie Epstein (SCU) def. Carly Moreno/Lily Dyer (CUI) 2-1: 19-21, 27-25, 15-10
Santa Clara 4, Sacramento State 1
Hornet Beach – Sacramento, Calif.
April 7, 2023
1. Robison/Sangiacomo (SCU) def. Kalani Hayes/Bridgette Smith (SAC) 21-13, 28-26
2. Ellie Tisko/Caitlin Volkmann (SAC) def. Campbell/Radeff (SCU) 18-21, 21-12, 15-10
3. Duffner/Kishton (SCU) def. Greta Davis/Ashlynn Archer (SAC) 21-16, 21-11
4. Bennett/Doud (SCU) def. Carrie Crom/Tiya Kamba-Griffin (SAC) 21-17, 21-15
5. Benesz/Epstein (SCU) def. Hailey Plugge/Caty Cordano (SAC) 21-15, 21-9
