STANFORD, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team ran into two top-10 nationally ranked teams Saturday, falling 5-0 to both No. 7 Grand Canyon and host No. 10 Stanford at the Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium.
vs. No. 7 GRAND CANYON
The Broncos (15-14) had many competitive sets against the Lopes (23-6) Saturday. Hailey Benesz and Alexie Epstein pushed GCU's duo of Brooke Birch and Krista Rowan to three sets at the No. 4 spot, winning the second set, 21-13, before falling 15-11 in the third. Elena Radeff and Katie Kishton were within five points in both of their sets at No. 2 pairs, falling to Samaya Morin and Allanis Navas, 21-16, 21-18.
Ella Duffner made her season debut at the No. 1 spot with veteran Julia Sangiacomo. The pair played two tight sets against GCU's Allison Hansen and Abbie Hughes, falling 21-15 and 21-17.
vs. No. 10 STANFORD
The Cardinal (26-10) swept each of the five pairs to earn the 5-0 victory over the Broncos. A couple of points going the other way and Nicole Robison and Sangiacomo would have had their own sweep at the No. 1 pairs spot. They were narrowly defeated by Stanford's Xolani Hodel and Maddi Kriz by the minimum two points in each set: 23-21 in the first and 21-19 in the second.
Claire Doud and Caroline Kedeshian were competitive at the No. 4 spot. They were within six points of Stanford's Kelly Belardi and Ashley Vincent in both sets, falling 21-17 and 21-15.
COMING UP
The Broncos travel to Santa Monica on Thursday for the two-day 2023 West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament.
#7 Grand Canyon 5, Santa Clara 0
Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium – Stanford, Calif.
April 22, 2023
1. Allison Hansen/Abbie Hughes (GCU) def. Ella Duffner/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-17
2. Samaya Morin/Allanis Navas (GCU) def. Elena Radeff/Katie Kishton (SCU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-18
3. Anaya Evans/Cami Sanchez (GCU) def. Casey Campbell/Claire Doud (SCU) 2-0: 21-12, 23-21
4. Brooke Birch/Krista Rowan (GCU) def. Hailey Benesz/Alexie Epstein (SCU) 2-1: 21-13, 13-21, 15-11
5. Jessica Drake/Dana Roskic (GCU) def. Hayley Hahn/Caroline Kedeshian (SCU) 2-0: 21-14, 21-14
Exh. Hailey Hutchings/Kamilah Checani (GCU) def. Elyse Erickson/Alexia Gallegos (SCU) 2-0: 21-14, 21-12
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 1, 3
#10 Stanford 5, Santa Clara 0
Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium – Stanford, Calif.
April 22, 2023
1. Xolani Hodel/Maddi Kriz (STAN) def. Nicole Robison/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU) 2-0: 23-21, 21-19
2. Charlie Ekstrom/Maya Harvey (STAN) def. Ella Duffner/Elena Radeff (SCU) 2-0: 21-9, 21-12
3. Kate Reilly/Emmy Sharp (STAN) def. Casey Campbell/Katie Kishton (SCU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-13
4. Kelly Belardi/Ashley Vincent (STAN) def. Claire Doud/Caroline Kedeshian (SCU) 2-0: 21-17, 21-15
5. Line Andersson/Daria Gusarova (STAN) def. Hailey Benesz/Alexie Epstein (SCU) 2-0: 21-19, 21-12
Exh. Zeena Khazendar/Kylee Matheson (STAN) def. Elyse Erickson/Alexia Gallegos (SCU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-15
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 3, 1
