SAN JOSE, Calif. — 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.
 
Santa 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 – 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) – it came right back and won each of the next two to win the matchup.
 
vs. SAN JOSE STATE

• Santa Clara (2-0) swept the Spartans behind four straight-set victories and a three-set comeback at the top position. Noelle Niederman and Ciara Cantlen earned a 21-19, 21-16 win over Kylee Moore and Anna Salmon at No. 4 to start the scoring. Teagan Wilson and Sammy Wood followed with a 21-19, 25-23 decision against Isabella Martinez and Mia Scheepens at No. 2.
   
• Alexandra Urbina 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 and Callie Loughran secured a 22-20, 21-19 win at No. 5 against Sabrina Moore and Sophia Torres.
   
• At No. 1, Sadie Snipes and Avery Cukjati dropped the first set before defeating Randi Reeves and Rio Thomas, 15-21, 21-10, 15-11.

vs. SAN FRANCISCO

• Later in the day, the Broncos returned to the sand for a neutral-site matchup against the Dons and produced another 5-0 sweep.
   
• Niederman 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.
   
• Stoddard 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.
   
• Snipes 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 and Tyler Parouse defeated N. Murray Ceriello and Scarlett McClung, 21-13, 25-23.

COMING UP

• Santa 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.

 
Santa Clara 5, San Jose State 0
Spartan Beach – San Jose, Calif.
Feb. 20, 2026
 
1. Sadie Snipes/Avery Cukjati (SCU) def. Randi Reeves/Rio Thomas (SJSU) 2-1: 15-21, 21-10, 15-11
2. Teagan Wilson/Sammy Wood (SCU) def. Isabella Martinez/Mia Scheepens (SJSU) 2-0: 21-19, 25-23
3. Alexandra Urbina/Reilly Gilliland (SCU) def. Grace Baker/Kaia Fanshier (SJSU) 2-0: 24-22, 21-19
4. Noelle Niederman/Ciara Cantlen (SCU) def. Kylee Moore/Anna Salmon (SJSU) 2-0: 21-19, 21-16
5. Ava Stoddard/Callie Loughran (SCU) def. Sabrina Moore/Sophia Torres (SJSU) 2-0: 22-20, 21-19
 
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 1
 
Santa Clara 5, San Francisco 0
Spartan Beach – San Jose, Calif.
Feb 20, 2026
 
1. Snipes/Cukjati (SCU) def. Kaydence Stormes/McKenna Towne (USF) 2-0: 21-14, 21-15
2. Wilson/Wood (SCU) def. Jia Lonardi/Rainie Stevens (USF) 2-1: 16-21, 24-22, 15-12
3. Urbina/Gilliland (SCU) def. Branson Lennon/Rylie Reeves (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-19
4. Niederman/Cantlen (SCU) def. Jacquelyn Strawn/Burkleigh Smith (USF) 2-0: 21-14, 21-17
5. Stoddard/Loughran (SCU) def. Mahlia Priestley/Lucy Speier (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-16
Ex. Skale/Parouse (SCU) def. N. Murray Ceriello/Scarlett McClung (USF) 2-0: 21-13, 25-23
 
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1