SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team did it again Friday, winning three consecutive elimination matches to reach the West Coast Conference Championship Tournament final for the second consecutive year before falling to top-seed and No. 7-ranked LMU, 3-1, at Ocean Park Beach.
 
vs. SAN FRANCISCO

• Santa Clara (23-17) opened the day by dispatching the Dons (12-19) for the second consecutive day, clinching the match with three straight-set victories.
   
• Avery Cukjati and Teagan Wilson set the tone at the No. 1 pairs, defeating McKenna Towne and Kaydence Stormes, 21-13, 21-13. Ciara Cantlen and Alexandra Urbina were equally dominant at the 4s, taking down Mahila Priestley and Burkleigh Smith, 21-12, 21-8, while Tyler Parouse and Ava Stoddard clinched the win at the 5s, defeating Nad Murray Ceriello and Scarlett McClung, 21-17, 21-8.

vs. SAINT MARY'S

• Santa Clara kept rolling against the third-seeded Gaels (26-12), winning three of four completed pairs to advance.
   
• Sadie Snipes and Sammy Wood took the No. 1 pairs in straight sets, 21-15, 21-11, while Cukjati and Wilson won a three-set battle at the 2s, rallying from a second-set loss to defeat Angelina Bour and Clarissa Klein, 21-17, 16-21, 15-7. Cantlen and Urbina clinched the match at the 4s, rallying from a first-set loss to defeat Bella Reyes and Alisia Silverthorn, 19-21, 21-12, 15-13. Anna Balsdon and Noelle Niederman dropped a 21-19, 21-19 decision to Hannah Couch and Isla Johnson at the 3s.

vs. PEPPERDINE

• Santa Clara took down the second-seeded Waves (26-16) to advance to the championship match, winning three of four completed pairs in another clinical performance.
   
• Cukjati and Wilson were sharp at the 2s, defeating Gabriella Perez and Maddy Snow, 21-16, 24-22, with the second set going to extra points. Balsdon and Niederman won at the 3s, taking down Alice Jagielska and Sonia Mancuso in straight sets, 21-18, 21-17, while Cantlen and Urbina clinched the championship berth at the 4s, defeating Emi Erickson and Ginevra Merlini, 22-20, 21-17. Snipes and Wood dropped a 21-14, 21-10 decision to Michaela Cyrani and Emma Eden at the No. 1 pairs.

vs. LMU (WCC Championship)

• Playing their fourth match of the day, the Broncos pushed the top-seeded and seventh-ranked Lions in a competitive championship final before falling, 3-1.
   
• Cantlen and Urbina delivered Santa Clara's point, defeating Maja Kruczek and Josefine Schaekel at the 4s in straight sets, 21-16, 21-15. Cukjati and Wilson dropped a 21-13, 21-14 decision to Chloe Hooker and Ines Piret at the 2s, while Balsdon and Niederman fell to Jaeya Brach and Magdalena Rabitsch at the 3s, 21-16, 21-5. Parouse and Stoddard dropped a 21-17, 21-17 decision to Ellie Davis and Katie McAlister at the 5s, while the No. 1 pairs between Snipes and Wood and Anna Pelloia and Tanon Rosenthal went unfinished.
   
• Santa Clara concluded the 2026 season with a program-record 23 victories and its second consecutive run to the WCC Tournament championship match.

 
Santa Clara 3, San Francisco 0
Ocean Park Beach – Santa Monica, Calif.
April 24, 2026
 
1. Sadie Snipes/Sammy Wood (SCU) def. McKenna Towne/Kaydence Stormes (USF) 2-0: 21-13, 21-13
2. Avery Cukjati/Teagan Wilson (SCU) vs. Lucy Speier/Rainie Stevens (USF) — unfinished
3. Anna Balsdon/Noelle Niederman (SCU) vs. Branson Lennon/Rylie Reeves (USF) — unfinished
4. Ciara Cantlen/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) def. Mahila Priestley/Burkleigh Smith (USF) 2-0: 21-12, 21-8
5. Tyler Parouse/Ava Stoddard (SCU) def. Nad Murray Ceriello/Scarlett McClung (USF) 2-0: 21-17, 21-8
 
Order of finish: 4, 1, 5
 
Santa Clara 3, Saint Mary's 1
Ocean Park Beach – Santa Monica, Calif.
April 24, 2026
 
1. Snipes/Wood (SCU) def. Genevieve Bane/Zoe Joshua (SMC) 2-0: 21-15, 21-11
2. Cukjati/Wilson (SCU) def. Angelina Bour/Clarissa Klein (SMC) 2-1: 21-17, 16-21, 15-7
3. Hannah Couch/Isla Johnson (SMC) def. Balsdon/Niederman (SCU) 2-0: 21-19, 21-19
4. Cantlen/Urbina (SCU) def. Bella Reyes/Alisia Silverthorn (SMC) 2-1: 19-21, 21-12, 15-13
5. Hannah Glick/Barett Nolan (SMC) vs. Parouse/Stoddard (SCU) — unfinished
 
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 2
 
Santa Clara 3, Pepperdine 1
Ocean Park Beach – Santa Monica, Calif.
April 24, 2026
 
1. Michaela Cyrani/Emma Eden (PEP) def. Snipes/Wood (SCU) 2-0: 21-14, 21-10
2. Cukjati/Wilson (SCU) def. Gabriella Perez/Maddy Snow (PEP) 2-0: 21-16, 24-22
3. Balsdon/Niederman (SCU) def. Alice Jagielska/Sonia Mancuso (PEP) 2-0: 21-18, 21-17
4. Cantlen/Urbina (SCU) def. Emi Erickson/Ginevra Merlini (PEP) 2-0: 22-20, 21-17
5. Emma Bubelis/Deanie Woodruff (PEP) vs. Parouse/Stoddard (SCU) — unfinished
 
Order of finish: 1, 4, 3, 2
 
LMU 3, Santa Clara 1 (WCC Championship)
Ocean Park Beach – Santa Monica, Calif.
April 24, 2026
 
1. Anna Pelloia/Tanon Rosenthal (LMU) vs. Snipes/Wood (SCU) — unfinished
2. Chloe Hooker/Ines Piret (LMU) def. Cukjati/Wilson (SCU) 2-0: 21-13, 21-14
3. Jaeya Brach/Magdalena Rabitsch (LMU) def. Balsdon/Niederman (SCU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-5
4. Cantlen/Urbina (SCU) def. Maja Kruczek/Josefine Schaekel (LMU) 2-0: 21-16, 21-15
5. Ellie Davis/Katie McAlister (LMU) def. Parouse/Stoddard (SCU) 2-0: 21-17, 21-17
 
Order of finish: 4, 5, 3, 2