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SAN JOSE, Calif. \u2014 The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team kicked off its 2026 campaign Friday with a near flawless 2-0 day at San Jose State’s “Spartan Beach,” sweeping both host San Jose State and West Coast Conference rival San Francisco by identical 5-0 scores.
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\nSanta Clara only dropped two sets all day, going 20-2 overall in sets played through all five pairs. And the two sets it didn’t win \u2013 the first set of the No. 1 pairs versus San Jose State (0-2), and the first set of the No. 2 pairs versus San Francisco (1-1) \u2013 it came right back and won each of the next two to win the matchup.
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\nvs. SAN JOSE STATE<\/p>\n
vs. SAN FRANCISCO<\/p>\n
COMING UP<\/p>\n
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\n\tSanta Clara (2-0) swept the Spartans behind four straight-set victories and a three-set comeback at the top position. Noelle Niederman<\/a> and Ciara Cantlen<\/a> earned a 21-19, 21-16 win over Kylee Moore and Anna Salmon at No. 4 to start the scoring. Teagan Wilson<\/a> and Sammy Wood<\/a> followed with a 21-19, 25-23 decision against Isabella Martinez and Mia Scheepens at No. 2.
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\n\tAlexandra Urbina<\/a> and Reilly Gilliland added a 24-22, 21-19 victory at No. 3 over Grace Baker and Kaia Fanshier to seal the team victory, and Ava Stoddard<\/a> and Callie Loughran<\/a> secured a 22-20, 21-19 win at No. 5 against Sabrina Moore and Sophia Torres.
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\n\tAt No. 1, Sadie Snipes<\/a> and Avery Cukjati<\/a> dropped the first set before defeating Randi Reeves and Rio Thomas, 15-21, 21-10, 15-11.
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\n\tLater in the day, the Broncos returned to the sand for a neutral-site matchup against the Dons and produced another 5-0 sweep.
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\n\tNiederman and Cantlen posted a strong decision at No. 4 with a 21-14, 21-17 victory over Jacquelyn Strawn and Burkleigh Smith. Wilson and Wood rallied from a first-set loss to defeat Jia Lonardi and Rainie Stevens, 16-21, 24-22, 15-12, at No. 2.
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\n\tStoddard and Loughran earned a 21-17, 21-16 win at No. 5 against Mahlia Priestley and Lucy Speier, and Urbina and Gilliland followed with a 21-17, 21-19 decision over Branson Lennon and Rylie Reeves at No. 3.
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\n\tSnipes and Cukjati capped the sweep at No. 1 with a dominating, 21-14, 21-15, victory against Kaydence Stormes and McKenna Towne. In exhibition play, Ellie Skale<\/a> and Tyler Parouse<\/a> defeated N. Murray Ceriello and Scarlett McClung, 21-13, 25-23.
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\n\tSanta Clara plays its first home matches of the year Saturday when it hosts San Francisco for a next-day rematch and another WCC foe in Pacific. The Broncos will face the Dons at 9 a.m. and Pacific at 3 p.m. at the Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Courts.
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\nSanta Clara 5, San Jose State 0
\nSpartan Beach \u2013 San Jose, Calif.
\nFeb. 20, 2026
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\n1. Sadie Snipes<\/a>\/Avery Cukjati<\/a> (SCU) def. Randi Reeves\/Rio Thomas (SJSU) 2-1: 15-21, 21-10, 15-11
\n2. Teagan Wilson<\/a>\/Sammy Wood<\/a> (SCU) def. Isabella Martinez\/Mia Scheepens (SJSU) 2-0: 21-19, 25-23
\n3. Alexandra Urbina<\/a>\/Reilly Gilliland (SCU) def. Grace Baker\/Kaia Fanshier (SJSU) 2-0: 24-22, 21-19
\n4. Noelle Niederman<\/a>\/Ciara Cantlen<\/a> (SCU) def. Kylee Moore\/Anna Salmon (SJSU) 2-0: 21-19, 21-16
\n5. Ava Stoddard<\/a>\/Callie Loughran<\/a> (SCU) def. Sabrina Moore\/Sophia Torres (SJSU) 2-0: 22-20, 21-19
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\nOrder of finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 1
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\nSanta Clara 5, San Francisco 0
\nSpartan Beach \u2013 San Jose, Calif.
\nFeb 20, 2026
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\n1. Snipes\/Cukjati (SCU) def. Kaydence Stormes\/McKenna Towne (USF) 2-0: 21-14, 21-15
\n2. Wilson\/Wood (SCU) def. Jia Lonardi\/Rainie Stevens (USF) 2-1: 16-21, 24-22, 15-12
\n3. Urbina\/Gilliland (SCU) def. Branson Lennon\/Rylie Reeves (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-19
\n4. Niederman\/Cantlen (SCU) def. Jacquelyn Strawn\/Burkleigh Smith (USF) 2-0: 21-14, 21-17
\n5. Stoddard\/Loughran (SCU) def. Mahlia Priestley\/Lucy Speier (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-16
\nEx. Skale\/Parouse (SCU) def. N. Murray Ceriello\/Scarlett McClung (USF) 2-0: 21-13, 25-23
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\nOrder of finish: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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