SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.- The Santa Clara women's beach volleyball team split a pair of matches on the first day of the Mustang Roundup. They dropped a heavily contested matchup to No. 14 ranked GCU 0-5 and won 3-2 against Houston Christian. The Broncos matchup against the Huskies, came down to the last match, but a clutch victory from Ava Stoddard and Sveva Munneke in the No. 5 spot gave them the victory.
 
vs. No. 14 GCU
 
Santa Clara 0, GCU 5
 
The Broncos fell in their first matchup to the 14th ranked Antelopes 5-0. The No. 1 pairing of Sadie Snipes and Sammy Wood took the Utes to two tough sets, barely falling 21-19 in the second set. Noelle Niederman and Holland Jackson took the Lopes to two sets, barely falling 31-29 in the first set and 21-15 in the second set. Alexandra Urbina and Ciara Cantlen also went two sets, falling 24-22 in the final set, while the Broncos fell in two sets for the remaining two matches as well.
 
1. Adriana Ferro/Katie Keefe (GCU) def. Sadie Snipes/Sammy Wood (SCU), 21-11, 21-19.
2. Ines Piret/Rhea Kohl (GCU) def. Noelle Niederman/Holland Jackson (SCU), 31-29, 21-15.
3. Karynn Garrow/Sophia Hladyniyuk (GCU) def. Alexandra Urbina/Ciara Cantlen (SCU), 21-18, 24-22.
4. Jessica Drake/Becca Drake (GCU) def. Teagan Wilson/Kawena Chillingworth (SCU), 21-12, 21-13.
5. Madi Bogle/Regan Holmer (GCU) def. Ava Stoddard/Sveva Munneke (SCU), 21-9, 21-18.
 
vs. Houston Christian
 
Santa Clara 3, Houston Christian 2
 
The Broncos defeated Houston Christian in the second matchup of the day 3-2. After falling in a tough three set battle in the No. 1 pairing, the Broncos No. 2 and 3 pairs of Nolle Niederman/Holland Jackson and Alexandra Urbina/Ciara Cantlen swept the Huskies in two sets. The Broncos lost the fourth matchup in three sets to even the match 2-2. Luckily, the No. 5 pair of Ava Stoddard and Sveva Munneke gave the Broncos the victory 21-19, 21-13, securing the 3-2 victory over the Huskies.
 
1 . Rachel Heilbrun/Kristin Gilmour (HCU) def. Sadie Snipes and Sammy Wood (SCU) 21-13, 15-21, 19-17.
2 . Holland Jackson/Noelle Niederman (SCU) def. Alisia Silverthorn/Paige Palmer (HCU) 21-8, 21-15.
3 . Alexandra Urbina/Ciara Cantlen (SCU) def. Tatum Lockhardt/Alexa Landmark (HCU) 26-24, 21-8.
4 . Lauren Vickery/Karla Sanchez George (HCU) def. Teagan Wilson/Callie Loughran (SCU) 16-21, 21-19, 15-11.
5 . Ava Stoddard/Sveva Munneke (SCU) def. Audrey Pearce/Sophia Sabol (HCU) 21-19, 21-13.
 
UP NEXT
The Broncos will finish up the final day of the Mustang Roundup on Sunday playing #17 Washington at 9 a.m. and San Jose State at 12:45 p.m.