STOCKTON, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team earned two wins Saturday, beating Sacramento State, 4-1, and host Pacific, 5-0, while also narrowly falling to UC Davis, 3-2, at the Raney Sand Volleyball Courts.
vs. SACRAMENTO STATE
The Santa Clara duos of Nicole Robison and Julia Sangiacomo, and Jordan Bennett and Claire Doud, both went 3-0 on Saturday. Both pairs got their first wins of the day in the morning against the Hornets (6-15) to help the Broncos (15-11) to a 4-1 victory.
Robison and Sangiacomo swept Kalani Hayes and Bridgette Smith for the second time in a week at the top pairs spot, beating them 21-17, 21-15, this time around. Bennett and Doud defeated Ashlynn Archer and Carrie Crom in three sets at the No. 4 spot, coming from behind after narrowly losing the first set, 24-22, to win the second, 21-12, and the third, 15-8.
Santa Clara also got sweeps at No. 3 pairs from Ella Duffner and Katie Kishton, and at the No. 5 spot from Hailey Benesz and Alexie Epstein.
vs. UC DAVIS
Yet another close battle between the Broncos and the Aggies (18-10) Saturday came down to one pair.
The Broncos took both the top (No. 1) and bottom (No. 5) pairs, but UC Davis triumphed in each of the three middle pairs battles to come out with the 3-2 team victory.
Robison and Sangiacomo earned their third win of the season over UC Davis' top duo of Tabitha Mitchell and Finley Rollins, this time sweeping them, 21-11, 24-22. Bennett and Doud moved down to the No. 5 spot and earned their second win of the day with another come-from-behind win. They fell, 21-17, in the first set, but would win the second, 21-15, and clinch it with a 15-10 win in the third.
vs. PACIFIC
Santa Clara swept their West Coast Conference foe Pacific (0-18) for the third time in 2023, winning 5-0 on the Tigers' home sand after also sweeping them in Santa Clara and on neutral courts in San Jose.
Every single pairs matchup was a sweep for the Broncos. The most dominant wins came from Robison and Sangiacomo, who won at No. 1, 21-12 and 21-14, and from Bennett and Doud, who won at the No. 4 spot in straight sets, 21-13, 21-13.
COMING UP
The Broncos host another WCC opponent in Saint Mary's for Senior Day on Wednesday. The match is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start at the Malley Beach Volleyball Courts. Admission is free for all fans.
Santa Clara 4, Sacramento State 1
Raney Sand Volleyball Courts – Stockton, Calif.
April 15, 2023
1. Nicole Robison/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) def. Kalani Hayes/Bridgette Smith (SAC) 2-0: 21-17, 21-15
2. Ellie Tisko/Caitlin Volkmann (SAC) def. Casey Campbell/Elena Radeff (SCU) 2-1: 24-26, 21-18, 15-10
3. Ella Duffner/Katie Kishton (SCU) def. Greta Davis/Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin (SAC) 2-0: 25-23, 21-13
4. Jordan Bennett/Claire Doud (SCU) def. Ashlynn Archer/Carrie Crom (SAC) 2-1: 22-24, 21-12, 15-8
5. Hailey Benesz/Alexie Epstein (SCU) def. Caty Cordano/Kate Doorn (SAC) 2-0: 21-15, 21-14
UC Davis 3, Santa Clara 2
Raney Sand Volleyball Courts – Stockton, Calif.
April 15, 2023
1. Robinson/Sangiacomo (SCU) def. Tabitha Mitchell/Finley Rollins (UCD) 2-0: 21-11, 24-22
2. Colleen McGuire/Kylie Miller (UCD) def. Campbell/Radeff (SCU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-16
3. Megan Luly/Mia Olen (UCD) def. Duffner/Kishton (SCU) 2-1: 19-21, 21-18, 17-15
4. Isabelle Comes/Sam Lazenby (UCD) def. Benesz/Epstein (SCU) 2-0: 21-19, 21-10
5. Bennett/Doud (SCU) def. Alicia Letvin/Sydney Rau-Kim (UCD) 2-1: 17-21, 21-15, 15-10
Santa Clara 5, Pacific 0
Raney Sand Volleyball Courts – Stockton, Calif.
April 15, 2023
1. Robison/Sangiacomo (SCU) def. Hania Taduran/Jenny Todd (PAC) 2-0: 21-12, 21-14
2. Duffner/Radeff (SCU) def. Josephine Kinlan/Abby Miller (PAC) 2-0: 21-14, 21-14
3. Campbell/Kishton (SCU) def. Camdyn Albrecht/Jillian Rodig (PAC) 2-0: 21-16, 21-12
4. Bennett/Doud (SCU) def. Miranda Baptista/Joli Ruby (PAC) 2-0: 21-13, 21-13
5. Benesz/Epstein (SCU) def. Alexa Edwards/Megan Nishimura (PAC) 2-0: 21-16, 21-17
