California State University at Northridge
San Francisco
Matadors Finish 2-1 at Big West/WCC Challenge
3/7/2020 2:15:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
CSUNÂ 3, SAN FRANCISCOÂ 2
The Matadors and Dons opened the tournament Saturday morning and the Matadors gutted out a 3-2 win. All three CSUN wins came in three sets as the Matadors won for the second time in three all-time meetings with San Francisco.
In a thrilling match at No. 1, Aeryn Owens and Lexi McLeod remained unbeaten on the season as the CSUN pair held off Anna Dalla Vecchia and Laurie McGrath by the score of 21-16, 15-21, 20-18. Taylor Brydon and Kailey Klein also kept their perfect season record intact in the No. 3 pair as the Matadors defeated USF's Ally Wada and Ella Reames, 21-19, 14-21, 15-11. CSUN needed a win in the No. 5 pair to secure the win as Lauren Eknoian and Meagan Carter swept Tanner Pemberton and Sophie Sydenham, 21-17, 21-19.
The other two matches went to the Dons as Lauren Speckman and Emily Zinger won the final two sets to knock off Darbi Honeycutt and Mikaela Maughan, 17-21, 21-14, 16-14. The No. 4 pair also went to USF as Shannon Levinson and Katie Wagstaff also went the distance to defeat Lauren McMurray and Daniella Molinari, 24-22, 16-21, 15-13. The losses for CSUN's No. 2 and No. 4 pair were the first setbacks of the season.
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CSUN 5, SANTA CLARAÂ 0
The Matadors bounced back in the 11 a.m. match to sweep Santa Clara, winning four of the five pairs in straight sets. The win saw CSUN even the all-time series with the Broncos 1-1.
Owens and McLeod improved to 4-0 on the season with a 21-17, 21-15 victory over Michelle Shaffer and Kathryn Decker in the No. 1 pair. Honeycutt, who was ill in the opening match of the day, was replaced by Seyvion Waggoner in the No. 2 pair as Waggoner and Maughan swept Gretchen Reinert and Julia Sangiacomo, 21-13, 21-15. Brydon and Klein made it 3-0 Matadors with a 21-19, 21-18 win over Elizabeth Held and Alex Anthony at No. 3. McMurray and Molinari earned CSUN's fourth sweep of the dual as they took care of the Broncos' No. 4 pair Claire Doud and Brynn Paumen, 21-11, 21-19. Eknoian and Carter then held off Kathryn Lebaron and Natalia Rentsch in three sets (21-11, 15-21, 15-10) as the Matadors improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the tournament.
SAINT MARY'S 3, CSUN 2
In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, the Gaels handed the Matadors their first loss of the season after pulling out a 3-2 win.
CSUN's No. 1 pair of Owens and McLeod remained unbeaten this season (5-0) with a 18-21, 21-12, 15-11 victory Jasmin Suarez/Sienna Young. The Matadors' second win came in the No. 4 pair as McMurray and Molinari improved to 4-1 after holding off Morgan Kendrick/Karmin Brown in three sets (21-15, 18-21, 15-10).
Saint Mary's claimed the other three pairs to complete the 3-2 win. Alexsa "Crash" Parker/Selbie Christensen won at No. 2, defeating Waggoner and Maughan in straight sets (21-19, 21-17). In the No. 3 pair, Elena Baka and Chandler Cowell dealt Brydon and Klein their first loss of the season, taking a three-set decision (21-15, 17-21, 15-12). In the final pair at No. 5, Kelsey Knudsen and Jennifer "Boo" Laird swept Eknoian and Carter by the count of 21-9, 21-12.
COACH NOELLE ROOKE SAID
"I'm proud of how the team handled the weather throughout the day. It was a challenge playing in the rain and wind and I was pleased that we won the first two duals despite a lineup change. I give credit to Saint Mary's in the third dual, they made some changes to their lineup and we came out the short end."
UP NEXT
The Matadors return home next Friday (Mar. 13) as CSUN hosts Westcliff and Cal State Los Angeles in a tri-dual beginning at 11 a.m. The Matadors continue the homestand Saturday (Mar. 14), hosting Boise State and Vanguard in another tri-dual at the CSUN Beach Volleyball Complex.
CSUNÂ 3, SAN FRANCISCO 2
MAR. 7 | MAINÂ BEACHÂ | SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.
1. Aeryn Owens/Lexi McLeod (CSUN) def. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Laurie McGrath (USF), 21-16, 15-21, 20-18
2. Lauren Speckman/Emily Zinger (USF) def. Darbi Honeycutt/Mikaela Maughan (CSUN), 17-21, 21-14, 16-14
3. Taylor Brydon/Kailey Klein (CSUN) def. Ally Wada/Ella Reames (USF), 21-19, 14-21, 15-11
4. Shannon Levinson/Katie Wagstaff (USF) def. Lauren McMurray/Daniella Molinari (CSUN), 24-22, 16-21, 15-13
5. Lauren Eknoian/Meagan Carter (CSUN) def. Tanner Pemberton/Sophie Sydenham (USF), 21-17, 21-19
Exh. Abbey Sweeting/Seyvion Waggoner (CSUN) vs. Orsula Staka/Erin Fujitani (USF), 21-17, 21-12
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CSUN 5, SANTA CLARAÂ 0
MAR. 7 | MAINÂ BEACHÂ | SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.
1. Aeryn Owens/Lexi McLeod (CSUN) def. Michelle Shaffer/Kathryn Decker (SCU), 21-17, 21-15
2. Seyvion Waggoner/Mikaela Maughan (CSUN) def. Gretchen Reinert/Julia Sangiacomo (SCU), 21-13, 21-15
3. Taylor Brydon/Kailey Klein (CSUN) def. Elizabeth Held/Alex Anthony (SCU), 21-19, 21-18
4. Lauren McMurray/Daniella Molinari (CSUN) def. Claire Doud/Brynn Paumen (SCU), 21-11, 21-19
5. Lauren Eknoian/Meagan Carter (CSUN) def. Kathryn Lebaron/Natalia Rentsch (SCU), 21-11, 15-21, 15-10
Exh. Abbey Sweeting/Darbi Honeycutt (CSUN) vs. Kamaile Manol/Maeve Davitt (SCU), no result
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SAINT MARY'S 3, CSUN 2
MAR. 7 | MAINÂ BEACHÂ | SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.
1. Aeryn Owens/Lexi McLeod (CSUN) def. Jasmin Suarez/Sienna Young (SMC), 18-21, 21-12, 15-11
2. Alexsa "Crash" Parker/Selbie Christensen (SMC) def. Seyvion Waggoner/Mikaela Maughan (CSUN), 21-19, 21-17
3. Elena Baka/Chandler Cowell (SMC) def. Taylor Brydon/Kailey Klein (CSUN), 21-15, 17-21, 15-12
4. Lauren McMurray/Daniella Molinari (CSUN) def. Morgan Kendrick/Karmin Brown (SMC), 21-15, 18-21, 15-10
5. Kelsey Knudsen/Jennifer "Boo" Laird (SMC) def. Lauren Eknoian/Meagan Carter (CSUN), 21-9, 21-12
Exh. Abbey Sweeting/Darbi Honeycutt (CSUN) vs. Aeriel Sundt/Madison Baumann (SMC), no result
