Beach Volleyball Splits on Day One of West Coast Challenge

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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team opened the West Coast Challenge on Friday with a split, sweeping Portland, 5-0, before falling to Pepperdine, 4-1, at Main Beach.
 
vs. PORTLAND

Santa Clara (11-8) wasted no time at Main Beach, sweeping Portland (4-13) across all five pairs with two of five going the distance in three sets.

 
Avery Cukjati and Sadie Snipes opened the day at the No. 1 pairs, rallying from a first-set loss to take the match, 21-23, 21-16, 15-11. Teagan Wilson and Sammy Wood made quick work of Sarah Incitti and Tate Mercer at the 2s, closing it out in two sets, 21-16, 23-21.

 
Mandy Hansen and Noelle Niederman won a three-set battle at the 3s, dropping the second set before closing it out, 21-15, 20-22, 15-8. Ciara Cantlen and Alexandra Urbina were dominant at the 4s, dispatching Nyah Mitchell and Elizabeth Ortiz, 21-14, 21-14, while Tyler Parouse and Ava Stoddard capped the sweep at the 5s with a convincing 21-11, 21-10 victory over Melissa Cormack and Jeryn Hildenbrand.

vs. PEPPERDINE

Wilson and Wood delivered Santa Clara’s point against the Waves, rallying from a first-set loss to defeat Alice Jagielska and Sonia Mancuso at the 3s, 16-21, 21-13, 15-13.

 
Cukjati and Snipes dropped a 21-15, 21-16 decision to Michaela Cyrani and Emma Eden at the No. 1 pairs, while Hansen and Niederman fell to Gabbie Perez and Maddy Snow at the 2s, 21-15, 21-8.

 
Cantlen and Urbina pushed Pepperdine’s Emi Erickson and Ginevra Merlini to extra points in a third set at the 4s, dropping a hard-fought decision, 21-17, 13-21, 18-16. Parouse and Stoddard dropped a 21-18, 21-17 decision to Emma Bubelis and Deanie Woodruff at the 5s, closing out a match in which five of the sets contested against Pepperdine were decided by four points or fewer.

COMING UP

Santa Clara concludes play at the West Coast Challenge on Saturday, facing No. 8 LMU at 9 a.m. before playing either at noon or 2 p.m., depending on the morning’s results.

 
Santa Clara 5, Portland 0
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 27, 2026
 
1. Avery Cukjati/Sadie Snipes (SCU) def. Leonie Freytag/Elin Larsson (POR) 2-1: 21-23, 21-16, 15-11
2. Teagan Wilson/Sammy Wood (SCU) def. Sarah Incitti/Tate Mercer (POR) 2-0: 21-16, 23-21
3. Mandy Hansen/Noelle Niederman (SCU) def. Valerie Bruk/Michela Strati (POR) 2-1: 21-15, 20-22, 15-8
4. Ciara Cantlen/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) def. Nyah Mitchell/Elizabeth Ortiz (POR) 2-0: 21-14, 21-14
5. Tyler Parouse/Ava Stoddard (SCU) def. Melissa Cormack/Jeryn Hildenbrand (POR) 2-0: 21-11, 21-10
 
 
Pepperdine 4, Santa Clara 1
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 27, 2026
 
1. Michaela Cyrani/Emma Eden (PEP) def. Cukjati/Snipes (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-16
2. Gabbie Perez/Maddy Snow (PEP) def. Hansen/Niederman (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-8
3. Wilson/Wood (SCU) def. Alice Jagielska/Sonia Mancuso (PEP) 2-1: 16-21, 21-13, 15-13
4. Emi Erickson/Ginevra Merlini (PEP) def. Cantlen/Urbina (SCU) 2-1: 21-17, 13-21, 18-16
5. Emma Bubelis/Deanie Woodruff (PEP) def. Parouse/Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 21-17