SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team opened its home slate Saturday at the Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Courts with a 3-2 win over San Francisco and a 5-0 sweep of Pacific, extending its undefeated season-opening run to a program-best 4-0.
 
The Broncos' previous best start to a season was 2-0 in 2022 when it opened with wins over Ottawa University and Utah. Santa Clara started the 2016 season 7-1.
 
vs. SAN FRANCISCO

• Avery Cukjati and Sadie Snipes secured the point at No. 1 versus the Dons with a 22-20, 21-11 win over McKenna Towne and Kaydence Stormes. Ciara Cantlen and Noelle Niederman followed with a dominant straight-set performance at No. 4, defeating Lucy Speier and Jacquelyn Strawn, 21-8, 21-15.
   
• Callie Loughran and Ava Stoddard clinched the dual at No. 5, topping Nadia Murray Ceriello and Burkleigh Smith 21-12, 21-14. San Francisco (2-2) – after being swept by the Broncos (4-0) only a day earlier – claimed points at No. 2 and No. 3, as Jia Lonardi and Rainie Stevens defeated Teagan Wilson and Sammy Wood 21-18, 22-20, and Branson Lennon and Rylie Reeves defeated Reilly Rose Gilliland and Alexandra Urbina 21-17, 21-19.

vs. PACIFIC

• Santa Clara secured its third sweep in four matches with a 5-0 victory over the Tigers. Cukjati and Snipes set the tone again at No. 1, defeating Jocelyn Abougoush and Samantha Holley 21-18, 21-16. Wilson and Wood responded at No. 2 with a 23-21, 21-12 win over Abby Miller and Kelea Saxton Vaka.
   
• Gilliland and Urbina delivered the tightest match of the day at No. 3, outlasting Zara Crawford and Josephine Kinlan 29-27, 21-12. Cantlen and Niederman added a 21-12, 21-16 victory over Makayla Beckett and Charlotte Gibson at No. 4, and Loughran and Stoddard capped the sweep at No. 5 with a 21-10, 21-7 win against Jayhlin Swain and Francesca Zanotti.

COMING UP

• Santa Clara stays in the Bay Area next weekend for the Battle of The Bay, taking on San Francisco for a third time, as well as host Stanford on Saturday, then facing San Jose State again and Sacramento State in San Jose.

 
Santa Clara 3, San Francisco 2
Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Courts – Santa Clara, Calif.
Feb. 21, 2026
 
1. Avery Cukjati/Sadie Snipes (SCU) def. McKenna Towne/Kaydence Stormes (USF) 2-0: 22-20, 21-11
2. Jia Lonardi/Rainie Stevens (USF) def. Teagan Wilson/Sammy Wood (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 22-20
3. Branson Lennon/Rylie Reeves (USF) def. Reilly Rose Gilliland/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) 2-0: 21-17, 21-19
4. Ciara Cantlen/Noelle Niederman (SCU) def. Lucy Speier/Jacquelyn Strawn (USF) 2-0: 21-8, 21-
5. Callie Loughran/Ava Stoddard (SCU) def. Nadia Murray Ceriello/Burkleigh Smith (USF) 2-0: 21-12, 21-14
Ex. Mandy Hansen/Tyler Parouse (SCU) def. Makenzie Holden/Scarlett McClung (USF) 2-0: 21-18, 21-14
 
Santa Clara 5, Pacific 0
Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Courts – Santa Clara, Calif.
Feb. 21, 2026
 
1. Cukjati/Snipes (SCU) def. Jocelyn Abougoush/Samantha Holley (PAC) 2-0: 21-18, 21-16
2. Wilson/Wood (SCU) def. Abby Miller/Kelea Saxton Vaka (PAC) 2-0: 23-21, 21-12
3. Gilliland/Urbina (SCU) def. Zara Crawford/Josephine Kinlan (PAC) 2-0: 29-27, 21-12
4. Cantlen/Niederman (SCU) def. Makayla Beckett/Charlotte Gibson (PAC) 2-0: 21-12, 21-16
5. Loughran/Stoddard (SCU) def. Jayhlin Swain/Francesca Zanotti (PAC) 2-0: 21-10, 21-7