LONG BEACH, Calif. —The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team closed the Long Beach State Invitational on Saturday with matches against No. 14 Stetson and No. 11 host Long Beach State at Long Beach City College, pushing several tightly contested sets against both nationally ranked opponents before falling, 4-1 and 5-0, respectively.
vs. No. 14 STETSON
- Santa Clara (8-4) opened the day against No. 14 Stetson (10-4), producing the dual’s most dramatic point at the No. 4 flight. Ciara Cantlen and Alexandra Urbina outlasted Zoe Flueckiger and Anniina Muukka in a three-set battle, 22–20, 22–24, 15–12, to secure Santa Clara’s team point.
- The Broncos also pushed the Hatters in several other flights. Avery Cukjati and Teagan Wilson battled through two tight sets at No. 2 before Stetson edged them in the match, 21–18, 21–19, while Mandy Hansen and Noelle Niederman forced another close second set at No. 3 before falling, 21–16, 21–19. At No. 5, Madeline Camp and Cayla Sutton narrowly defeated Callie Loughran and Ava Stoddard, 21–17, 21–18.
vs. No. 11 LONG BEACH STATE
- Santa Clara then closed the tournament against host No. 11 Long Beach State (7-3). The Beach secured the dual, 5–0, but the Broncos again pushed several courts deep into sets. At No. 4, Cantlen and Urbina battled through a tight opener before Long Beach State escaped, 22–20, and went on to win the pair.
- The No. 5 pairs also remained close throughout, as Kawena Chillingworth and Ava Stoddard pushed both sets to late points before the Beach held on, 21–19, 22–20.
COMING UP
- Santa Clara next competes at the Mustang Roundup hosted by Cal Poly on Friday and Saturday in San Luis Obispo.
No. 14 Stetson 4, Santa Clara 1
Long Beach CC – Long Beach, Calif.
March 7, 2026
1. Marta Carro/Maria Ozaeta (STET) def. Sadie Snipes/Sammy Wood (SCU) 2-0: 21-13, 21-16
2. EJ Cudmore/Julia Radelczuk (STET) def. Avery Cukjati/Teagan Wilson (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 21-19
3. Danielle Hernandez and Lucie Nosalkova (STET) def. Mandy Hansen/Noelle Niederman (SCU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-19
4. Ciara Cantlen/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) def. Zoe Flueckiger/Anniina Muukka (STET) 2-1: 22-20, 22-24, 15-12
5. Madeline Camp/Cayla Sutton (STET) def. Callie Loughran/Ava Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 21-17, 21-18
Order of finish: 1, 5, 2, 3, 4
No. 11 Long Beach State 5, Santa Clara 0
Long Beach CC – Long Beach, Calif.
March 7, 2026
1. Malia Gementera/Taylor Hagenah (LBSU) def. Snipes/Wood (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-13
2. Tineke Hinton/Demi Wagdy (LBSU) def. Cukjati/Wilson (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 21-13
3. Kiara Edwards/Savannah Standage (LBSU) def. Hansen/Niederman (SCU) 2-0: 21-12, 21-6
4. Mahala Esser/Victoria Henkel (LBSU) def. Cantlen/Urbina (SCU) 2-0: 22-20, 21-17
5. Nicole Lankton/Sammy Okano (LBSU) def. Kawena Chillingworth/Ava Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 21-19, 22-20
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 5
