Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Dominates, Extends Undefeated Streak

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team continued its impressive start to the season, securing a 3-2 victory over San Francisco and a 5-0 sweep of Pacific on Saturday at the Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Courts. This performance extends the Broncos’ undefeated run to a program-best 4-0.

Broncos Reach Program-Best Start

Santa Clara’s previous best season start was 2-0 in 2022, achieved with wins over Ottawa University and Utah. The team began the 2016 season with a 7-1 record.

Match Recap: Santa Clara 3, San Francisco 2

The Broncos battled to a 3-2 win against the University of San Francisco. Key victories included:

• Avery Cukjati and Sadie Snipes defeated McKenna Towne and Kaydence Stormes (USF) 2-0: 22-20, 21-11.
• Ciara Cantlen and Noelle Niederman defeated Lucy Speier and Jacquelyn Strawn (USF) 2-0: 21-8, 21-15.
• Callie Loughran and Ava Stoddard clinched the dual with a 2-0 victory over Nadia Murray Ceriello and Burkleigh Smith (USF): 21-12, 21-14.

San Francisco secured points at the No. 2 and No. 3 pairings, with Jia Lonardi and Rainie Stevens defeating Teagan Wilson and Sammy Wood, and Branson Lennon and Rylie Reeves defeating Reilly Rose Gilliland and Alexandra Urbina.

Match Recap: Santa Clara 5, Pacific 0

Santa Clara dominated Pacific with a 5-0 sweep. Highlights included:

• Cukjati and Snipes defeated Jocelyn Abougoush and Samantha Holley (PAC) 2-0: 21-18, 21-16.
• Wilson and Wood defeated Abby Miller and Kelea Saxton Vaka (PAC) 2-0: 23-21, 21-12.
• Gilliland and Urbina secured a hard-fought 2-0 win over Zara Crawford and Josephine Kinlan (PAC): 29-27, 21-12.
• Cantlen and Niederman defeated Makayla Beckett and Charlotte Gibson (PAC) 2-0: 21-12, 21-16.
• Loughran and Stoddard completed the sweep with a 2-0 victory over Jayhlin Swain and Francesca Zanotti (PAC): 21-10, 21-7.

Looking Ahead

Santa Clara will continue competition in the Bay Area next weekend at the Battle of The Bay, facing San Francisco for a third time and Stanford on Saturday, followed by matches against San Jose State and Sacramento State in San Jose.