SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team closed out the West Coast Challenge on Saturday, facing No. 8 LMU and Saint Mary's, dropping decisions to the Lions, 5-0, and the Gaels, 3-2, at Main Beach to finish fourth at the tournament.
 
vs. LMU

• Santa Clara (11-10) faced the eighth-ranked Lions (19-5) in the morning, with four of five pairs keeping it close before dropping their respective decisions. Seven of the 10 contested sets against the Lions were decided by five points or fewer, with four of those only determined by three or less.
   
• Ciara Cantlen and Alexandra Urbina were tested at the 4s, dropping a narrow 21-19, 21-18 decision to Maja Kruczek and Josefine Schaekel. Tyler Parouse and Ava Stoddard were equally competitive at the 5s, falling to Ellie Davis and Katie McAlister, 21-16, 21-18, while Noelle Niederman and Sammy Wood dropped a 21-19, 21-17 decision to Jaeya Brach and Chloe Hooker at the 3s.
   
• Avery Cukjati and Sadie Snipes fell to Anna Pelloia and Tanon Rosenthal at the No. 1 pairs, 21-18, 21-10, while Hayley Hahn and Ellie Skale dropped a 21-13, 21-14 decision to Ines Piret and Magdalena Rabitsch at the 2s.

vs. SAINT MARY'S

• Santa Clara gave the Gaels (18-8) all they could handle in the afternoon, with Cantlen and Urbina and Teagan Wilson and Wood each earning points for the Broncos in a 3-2 setback.
   
• Wilson and Wood took care of Delaney Nicholls and Alisia Silverthorn at the 3s in straight sets, 21-18, 21-9, while Cantlen and Urbina rallied from a second-set defeat to take down Isla Johnson and Bella Reyes at the 4s, 21-17, 14-21, 15-11.
   
• Cukjati and Snipes dropped a tightly-contested 22-20, 21-19 decision to Genevieve Bane and Angelina Bour at the No. 1 pairs. Mandy Hansen and Niederman pushed Saint Mary's Hannah Couch and Clarissa Klein all the way to a third set at the 2s before dropping the decision, 22-20, 12-21, 15-10. Parouse and Stoddard fell to Hannah Glick and Barett Nolan, 21-18, 21-12, at the 5s to close out the tournament.

COMING UP

• Santa Clara next competes at the Boise State Beach Classic in Boise, Idaho, starting Friday. The Broncos will play four matches in two days. Fans can find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.

 
No. 8 LMU 5, Santa Clara 0
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 28, 2026
 
1. Anna Pelloia/Tanon Rosenthal (LMU) def. Avery Cukjati/Sadie Snipes (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 21-10
2. Ines Piret/Magdalena Rabitsch (LMU) def. Hayley Hahn/Ellie Skale (SCU) 2-0: 21-13, 21-14
3. Jaeya Brach/Chloe Hooker (LMU) def. Noelle Niederman/Sammy Wood (SCU) 2-0: 21-19, 21-17
4. Maja Kruczek/Josefine Schaekel (LMU) def. Ciara Cantlen/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) 2-0: 21-19, 21-18
5. Ellie Davis/Katie McAlister (LMU) def. Tyler Parouse/Ava Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-18
 
 
Saint Mary's 3, Santa Clara 2
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 28, 2026
 
1. Genevieve Bane/Angelina Bour (SMC) def. Cukjati/Snipes (SCU) 2-0: 22-20, 21-19
2. Hannah Couch/Clarissa Klein (SMC) def. Mandy Hansen/Niederman (SCU) 2-1: 22-20, 12-21, 15-10
3. Teagan Wilson/Wood (SCU) def. Delaney Nicholls/Alisia Silverthorn (SMC) 2-0: 21-18, 21-9
4. Cantlen/Urbina (SCU) def. Isla Johnson/Bella Reyes (SMC) 2-1: 21-17, 14-21, 15-11
5. Hannah Glick/Barett Nolan (SMC) def. Parouse/Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 21-12