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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. \u2014 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.
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\nvs. PORTLAND<\/p>\n
vs. PEPPERDINE<\/p>\n
COMING UP<\/p>\n
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\n\tSanta 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.
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\n\tAvery Cukjati<\/a> and Sadie Snipes<\/a> 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<\/a> and Sammy Wood<\/a> made quick work of Sarah Incitti and Tate Mercer at the 2s, closing it out in two sets, 21-16, 23-21.
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\n\tMandy Hansen<\/a> and Noelle Niederman<\/a> won a three-set battle at the 3s, dropping the second set before closing it out, 21-15, 20-22, 15-8. Ciara Cantlen<\/a> and Alexandra Urbina<\/a> were dominant at the 4s, dispatching Nyah Mitchell and Elizabeth Ortiz, 21-14, 21-14, while Tyler Parouse<\/a> and Ava Stoddard<\/a> capped the sweep at the 5s with a convincing 21-11, 21-10 victory over Melissa Cormack and Jeryn Hildenbrand.
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\n\tWilson 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.
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\n\tCukjati 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.
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\n\tCantlen 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.
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\n\tSanta 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.
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\nSanta Clara 5, Portland 0
\nMain Beach \u2013 Santa Cruz, Calif.
\nMarch 27, 2026
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\n1. Avery Cukjati<\/a>\/Sadie Snipes<\/a> (SCU) def. Leonie Freytag\/Elin Larsson (POR) 2-1: 21-23, 21-16, 15-11
\n2. Teagan Wilson<\/a>\/Sammy Wood<\/a> (SCU) def. Sarah Incitti\/Tate Mercer (POR) 2-0: 21-16, 23-21
\n3. Mandy Hansen<\/a>\/Noelle Niederman<\/a> (SCU) def. Valerie Bruk\/Michela Strati (POR) 2-1: 21-15, 20-22, 15-8
\n4. Ciara Cantlen<\/a>\/Alexandra Urbina<\/a> (SCU) def. Nyah Mitchell\/Elizabeth Ortiz (POR) 2-0: 21-14, 21-14
\n5. Tyler Parouse<\/a>\/Ava Stoddard<\/a> (SCU) def. Melissa Cormack\/Jeryn Hildenbrand (POR) 2-0: 21-11, 21-10
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\nPepperdine 4, Santa Clara 1
\nMain Beach \u2013 Santa Cruz, Calif.
\nMarch 27, 2026
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\n1. Michaela Cyrani\/Emma Eden (PEP) def. Cukjati\/Snipes (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-16
\n2. Gabbie Perez\/Maddy Snow (PEP) def. Hansen\/Niederman (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-8
\n3. Wilson\/Wood (SCU) def. Alice Jagielska\/Sonia Mancuso (PEP) 2-1: 16-21, 21-13, 15-13
\n4. Emi Erickson\/Ginevra Merlini (PEP) def. Cantlen\/Urbina (SCU) 2-1: 21-17, 13-21, 18-16
\n5. Emma Bubelis\/Deanie Woodruff (PEP) def. Parouse\/Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 21-17<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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