STANFORD, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team kicked off the Battle of the Bay Friday with a split at Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium, defeating San Francisco for the third time this season, 4-1, before falling to host and No. 1-ranked Stanford, 5-0.
 
vs. SAN FRANCISCO

• The Broncos opened the day with a decisive 4-1 victory, claiming four of the five scoring courts and winning twice in three sets.
   
• At No. 5, Tyler Parouse and Ava Stoddard held off Nadia Murray Ceriello and Burkleigh Smith 23-21 in a tight opening set before pulling away 21-16 in the second. Alexandra Urbina and Ciara Cantlen dropped the first set at No. 3 but responded with a 24-22 second-set win and closed the match 15-11 over Rylie Reeves and Branson Lennon.
   
• Sadie Snipes and Avery Cukjati delivered another three-set point at No. 1, finishing off McKenna Towne and Kaydence Stormes 17-15 in the decisive set after splitting the first two. Callie Loughran and Noelle Niederman secured the fourth team point with a steady 21-17, 21-17 win at No. 4. San Francisco's lone point came at No. 2, where Jia Lonardi and Rainie Stevens defeated Sammy Wood and Teagan Wilson 21-15, 21-18.

vs. STANFORD

• The top-ranked Cardinal claimed all five scoring courts in the afternoon dual. At No. 1, Kelly Belardi and Ruby Sorra defeated Sadie Snipes and Avery Cukjati 21-15, 21-14. At No. 2, Avery Jackson and Brooke Rockwell topped Sammy Wood and Mandy Hansen 21-12, 21-14.
   
• Indigo Clarke and Clara Stowell earned a 21-11, 21-18 win over Noelle Niederman and Reilly Rose Gilliland at No. 3, while Charlotta Bell and Daria Gusarova defeated Alexandra Urbina and Ciara Cantlen 21-15, 21-13 at No. 4.
   
• Callie Loughran and Ava Stoddard pushed Elena Fisher and Chloe Hoffman to extra points in the opening set at No. 5 pairs before falling, 25-23, 21-16.

COMING UP

• The Broncos continue play in the Battle of the Bay Saturday with two matches at San Jose State. Santa Clara faces the host Spartans at 10 a.m. then take on Sacramento State at noon.

 
Santa Clara 4, San Francisco 1
Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium – Stanford, Calif.
Feb. 27, 2026
 
1. Avery Cukjati/Sadie Snipes (SCU) def. Kaydence Stormes/McKenna Towne (USF) 2-1: 21-14, 20-22, 17-15
2. Jia Lonardi/Rainie Stevens (USF) def. Teagan Wilson/Sammy Wood (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-18
3. Ciara Cantlen/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) def. Branson Lennon/Rylie Reeves (USF) 2-1: 13-21, 24-22, 15-11
4. Callie Loughran/Noelle Niederman (SCU) def. Lucy Speier/Jacquelyn Strawn (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-17
5. Tyler Parouse/Ava Stoddard (SCU) def. Nad Murray Ceriello/Burkleigh Smith (USF) 2-0: 23-21, 21-16
Exh. Kawena Chillingworth/Mandy Hansen (SCU) def. Scarlett McClung/Mahila Priestley (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-19
 
Order of finish: Exh., 2, 4, 5, 1, 3
 
No. 1 Stanford 5, Santa Clara 0
Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium – Stanford, Calif.
Feb. 27, 2026
 
1. Kelly Belardi/Ruby Sorra (STAN) def. Cukjati/Snipes (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-14
2. Avery Jackson/Brooke Rockwell (STAN) def. Hansen/Wood (SCU) 2-0: 21-12, 21-14
3. Indigo Clarke/Clara Stowell (STAN) def. Reilly Rose Gilliland/Niederman (SCU) 2-0: 21-11, 21-18
4. Charlotta Bell/Daria Gusarova (STAN) def. Cantlen/Urbina (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-13
5. Elena Fisher/Chloe Hoffman (STAN) def. Loughran/Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 25-23, 21-16
Exh. Ofure Odigie/Ashley Vincent (STAN) def. Parouse/Ellie Skale (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-12
 
Order of finish: Exh., 2, 4, 1, 3, 5