SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team opened the West Coast Challenge on Friday with a split, sweeping Portland, 5-0, before falling to Pepperdine, 4-1, at Main Beach.
 
vs. PORTLAND

• Santa Clara (11-8) wasted no time at Main Beach, sweeping Portland (4-13) across all five pairs with two of five going the distance in three sets.
   
• Avery Cukjati and Sadie Snipes opened the day at the No. 1 pairs, rallying from a first-set loss to take the match, 21-23, 21-16, 15-11. Teagan Wilson and Sammy Wood made quick work of Sarah Incitti and Tate Mercer at the 2s, closing it out in two sets, 21-16, 23-21.
   
• Mandy Hansen and Noelle Niederman won a three-set battle at the 3s, dropping the second set before closing it out, 21-15, 20-22, 15-8. Ciara Cantlen and Alexandra Urbina were dominant at the 4s, dispatching Nyah Mitchell and Elizabeth Ortiz, 21-14, 21-14, while Tyler Parouse and Ava Stoddard capped the sweep at the 5s with a convincing 21-11, 21-10 victory over Melissa Cormack and Jeryn Hildenbrand.

vs. PEPPERDINE

• Wilson and Wood delivered Santa Clara's point against the Waves, rallying from a first-set loss to defeat Alice Jagielska and Sonia Mancuso at the 3s, 16-21, 21-13, 15-13.
   
• Cukjati and Snipes dropped a 21-15, 21-16 decision to Michaela Cyrani and Emma Eden at the No. 1 pairs, while Hansen and Niederman fell to Gabbie Perez and Maddy Snow at the 2s, 21-15, 21-8.
   
• Cantlen and Urbina pushed Pepperdine's Emi Erickson and Ginevra Merlini to extra points in a third set at the 4s, dropping a hard-fought decision, 21-17, 13-21, 18-16. Parouse and Stoddard dropped a 21-18, 21-17 decision to Emma Bubelis and Deanie Woodruff at the 5s, closing out a match in which five of the sets contested against Pepperdine were decided by four points or fewer.

COMING UP

• Santa Clara concludes play at the West Coast Challenge on Saturday, facing No. 8 LMU at 9 a.m. before playing either at noon or 2 p.m., depending on the morning's results.

 
Santa Clara 5, Portland 0
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 27, 2026
 
1. Avery Cukjati/Sadie Snipes (SCU) def. Leonie Freytag/Elin Larsson (POR) 2-1: 21-23, 21-16, 15-11
2. Teagan Wilson/Sammy Wood (SCU) def. Sarah Incitti/Tate Mercer (POR) 2-0: 21-16, 23-21
3. Mandy Hansen/Noelle Niederman (SCU) def. Valerie Bruk/Michela Strati (POR) 2-1: 21-15, 20-22, 15-8
4. Ciara Cantlen/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) def. Nyah Mitchell/Elizabeth Ortiz (POR) 2-0: 21-14, 21-14
5. Tyler Parouse/Ava Stoddard (SCU) def. Melissa Cormack/Jeryn Hildenbrand (POR) 2-0: 21-11, 21-10
 
 
Pepperdine 4, Santa Clara 1
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 27, 2026
 
1. Michaela Cyrani/Emma Eden (PEP) def. Cukjati/Snipes (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-16
2. Gabbie Perez/Maddy Snow (PEP) def. Hansen/Niederman (SCU) 2-0: 21-15, 21-8
3. Wilson/Wood (SCU) def. Alice Jagielska/Sonia Mancuso (PEP) 2-1: 16-21, 21-13, 15-13
4. Emi Erickson/Ginevra Merlini (PEP) def. Cantlen/Urbina (SCU) 2-1: 21-17, 13-21, 18-16
5. Emma Bubelis/Deanie Woodruff (PEP) def. Parouse/Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 21-17