Friday, April 21
Honolulu, O'ahu
1:30 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
2
vs
3
UC Davis
Photo by: Courtney Metzger
Heartbreaking Day for Matadors at Big West Beach Championship
4/21/2023 9:38:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
CSUN-UC Davis Box Score // CSUN-Sacramento State Box Score // CSUN-Cal Poly Box Score
HONOLULU, O'ahu - Bidding for its program record 18th win of the season, the CSUN beach volleyball came up agonizingly short as the Matadors were eliminated from the 2023 Big West Beach Volleyball Championship Friday at Queen's Beach.
The Matadors, seeded sixth in the seven-team field, opened the tournament against No. 3-seed UC Davis and dropped a 3-2 decision that came down to extra points in the final pair. CSUN responded with a 3-2 victory over Sacramento State in an elimination match before falling to Cal Poly, 3-2 in another match that came down the final points in the final pair.
With 17 wins, the Matadors match the program record for season wins with the 2018 and 2022Â CSUN teams that also won 17 times.
UC DAVIS 3, CSUNÂ 2
The Matadors (16-15) would drop the No. 3 pair to open the day as Mia Olen and Megan Luly topped Seyvion Waggoner and Mikaela Maughan, 21-19, 21-16. CSUN responded with a straight-set win the No. 2 pair as Emily Sparks and Mac McCarthy topped Tabitha Mitchell and Finley Robbins, 21-19, 21-19 to even the dual at 1-1. The Matadors went up 2-1 when Victoria Rogers and Layla Cederlind swept Isabelle Comes and Alicia Letvin in the No. 4 pair by the identical score of 21-19, 21-19. The Aggies' Colleen McGuire and Kylie Miller evened the team score at 2-2 with a three-set win over Lauren Eknoian and Tasha Mae, 12-21, 21-18, 15-6 setting up the decisive pair on the No. 5 court. After dropping the opening set 21-15, CSUN's Abbey Sweeting and Gabriela Griego topped UCD's Morgan Coolbaugh and Sam Lazenby 21-17 in set two. The match moved to a third set and after trading points for much of the set, the Aggies won the final two points in a 16-14 win.
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CSUNÂ 3, SACRAMENTO STATE 2
Needing a win to stave off elimination, the Matadors (17-15) responded with another tight 3-2 victory over the Hornets in their second match of the day. In defeating Sacramento State for the third straight year, Rogers and Cederlind got the scoring underway with a dominating 21-9, 21-9 victory over Ashlynn Archer and Carrie Crom in the No. 4 pair. Eknoian and Mae then made it 2-0 CSUN with a 21-18, 21-12 win over Kalani Hayes and Bridgette Smith on the No. 1 court. The Hornet's Caitlin Volkmann and Ellie Tisko would earn their team's first point by holding off Sparks and McCarthy in three sets, 21-16, 16-21, 16-14. Hailey Plugge and Caty Cordano then evened the score at 2-2 with another three-set win over Sweeting and Griego at No. 5 (21-18, 19-21, 15-9) which set up yet another winner-take-all match at No. 3. The Matadors would come out on top to stay alive in the championship as Waggoner and Maughan held off Greta Davis and Tiya Kamba-Griffin by the score of 21-19, 13-21, 15-13 to secure CSUN's 17th win of the season.
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CAL POLY 3, CSUN 2
In a battle to advance to Saturday's final day of competition, the Matadors dropped a second heartbreaker on the day as the Mustangs held on for a 3-2 win. CSUN (17-16) dropped the opening pair as Piper Ferch and Izzy Martinez topped Sparks and McCarthy, 21-19, 21-12 in the 2's. Rogers and Cederlind would tie the match at 1-1 with a 21-15, 21-19 victory over Emma Zuffelato and Kalee Graff in the 4's. Sweeting and Griego then put the Matadors one win from advancing after sweeping Margo Smith and Susie Lloyd, 22-20, 21-16 in the No. 5 pair. The final two pairs would go the distance with both going to the Mustangs as Piper Naess and Jayelin Lombard topped Eknoian and Mae, 21-12, 18-21, 15-9 once again setting up a winner-take-all on the No. 3 court. Cal Poly's Delaney Peranich and Brooke Golik claimed the opening set over Waggoner and Maughan 26-24 before the Matador pair took set two by the score of 21-18. The final set would go the Mustangs 16-14 as CSUN finished the season with a 17-16 record.
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COACH ARI HOMAYUNÂ SAID
"I couldn't have asked for a better effort from the girls. We needed to get a little better to compete and we did. I'm super proud of the girls and of how hard they battled. We're going to miss the seniors a ton and the impact they have had on this program but excited to see this group continue to grow."
UC DAVISÂ 3, CSUNÂ 2
#1 - Colleen McGuire/Kylie Miller (UCD) def. Lauren Eknoian/Tasha Mae (CSUN) 12-21, 21-18, 15-6
#2 - Emily Sparks/Mac McCarthy (CSUN) def. Tabitha Mitchell/Finley Robbins (UCD) 21-19, 21-19
#3 - Mia Olen/Megan Luly (UCD) def. Seyvion Waggoner/Mikaela Maughan (CSUN) 21-19, 21-16
#4 - Victoria Rogers/Layla Cederlind (CSUN) def. Isabelle Comes/Alicia Letvin (UCD)Â 21-19, 21-19
#5 - Morgan Coolbaugh/Sam Lazenby (UCD) def. Abbey Sweeting/Gabriela Griego (CSUN) 21-15, 17-21, 16-14
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CSUNÂ 3, SACRAMENTO STATE 2
1. Lauren Eknoian/Tasha Mae (CSUN) def. Kalani Hayes/Bridgette Smith (SAC) 21-18, 21-12
2. Caitlin Volkmann/Ellie Tisko (SAC) def. Emily Sparks/Mac McCarthy (CSUN) 21-16, 16-21, 16-14
3. Mikaela Maughan/Seyvion Waggoner (CSUN) def. Greta Davis/Tiya Kamba-Griffin (SAC) 21-19, 13-21, 15-13
4. Layla Cederlind/Victoria Rogers (CSUN) def. Ashlynn Archer/Carrie Crom (SAC) 21-9, 21-9
5. Hailey Plugge/Caty Cordano (SAC) def. Abbey Sweeting/Gabriela Griego (CSUN) 21-18, 19-21, 15-9
CAL POLYÂ 3, CSUNÂ 2
1. Piper Naess/Jayelin Lombard (CP) def. Lauren Eknoian/Tasha Mae (CSUN) 21-12, 18-21, 15-9
2. Piper Ferch/Izzy Martinez (CP) def. Emily Sparks/Mac McCarthy (CSUN) 21-19, 21-12
3. Delaney Peranich/Brooke Golik (CP) def. Mikaela Maughan/Seyvion Waggoner (CSUN) 26-24, 18-21, 16-14
4. Victoria Rogers/Layla Cederlind (CSUN) def. Emma Zuffelato/Kalee Graff (CP) 21-15, 21-19
5. Abbey Sweeting/Gabriela Griego (CSUN) def. Margo Smith/Susie Lloyd (CP) 22-20, 21-16
#GoMatadors
HONOLULU, O'ahu - Bidding for its program record 18th win of the season, the CSUN beach volleyball came up agonizingly short as the Matadors were eliminated from the 2023 Big West Beach Volleyball Championship Friday at Queen's Beach.
The Matadors, seeded sixth in the seven-team field, opened the tournament against No. 3-seed UC Davis and dropped a 3-2 decision that came down to extra points in the final pair. CSUN responded with a 3-2 victory over Sacramento State in an elimination match before falling to Cal Poly, 3-2 in another match that came down the final points in the final pair.
With 17 wins, the Matadors match the program record for season wins with the 2018 and 2022Â CSUN teams that also won 17 times.
UC DAVIS 3, CSUNÂ 2
The Matadors (16-15) would drop the No. 3 pair to open the day as Mia Olen and Megan Luly topped Seyvion Waggoner and Mikaela Maughan, 21-19, 21-16. CSUN responded with a straight-set win the No. 2 pair as Emily Sparks and Mac McCarthy topped Tabitha Mitchell and Finley Robbins, 21-19, 21-19 to even the dual at 1-1. The Matadors went up 2-1 when Victoria Rogers and Layla Cederlind swept Isabelle Comes and Alicia Letvin in the No. 4 pair by the identical score of 21-19, 21-19. The Aggies' Colleen McGuire and Kylie Miller evened the team score at 2-2 with a three-set win over Lauren Eknoian and Tasha Mae, 12-21, 21-18, 15-6 setting up the decisive pair on the No. 5 court. After dropping the opening set 21-15, CSUN's Abbey Sweeting and Gabriela Griego topped UCD's Morgan Coolbaugh and Sam Lazenby 21-17 in set two. The match moved to a third set and after trading points for much of the set, the Aggies won the final two points in a 16-14 win.
Â
CSUNÂ 3, SACRAMENTO STATE 2
Needing a win to stave off elimination, the Matadors (17-15) responded with another tight 3-2 victory over the Hornets in their second match of the day. In defeating Sacramento State for the third straight year, Rogers and Cederlind got the scoring underway with a dominating 21-9, 21-9 victory over Ashlynn Archer and Carrie Crom in the No. 4 pair. Eknoian and Mae then made it 2-0 CSUN with a 21-18, 21-12 win over Kalani Hayes and Bridgette Smith on the No. 1 court. The Hornet's Caitlin Volkmann and Ellie Tisko would earn their team's first point by holding off Sparks and McCarthy in three sets, 21-16, 16-21, 16-14. Hailey Plugge and Caty Cordano then evened the score at 2-2 with another three-set win over Sweeting and Griego at No. 5 (21-18, 19-21, 15-9) which set up yet another winner-take-all match at No. 3. The Matadors would come out on top to stay alive in the championship as Waggoner and Maughan held off Greta Davis and Tiya Kamba-Griffin by the score of 21-19, 13-21, 15-13 to secure CSUN's 17th win of the season.
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CAL POLY 3, CSUN 2
In a battle to advance to Saturday's final day of competition, the Matadors dropped a second heartbreaker on the day as the Mustangs held on for a 3-2 win. CSUN (17-16) dropped the opening pair as Piper Ferch and Izzy Martinez topped Sparks and McCarthy, 21-19, 21-12 in the 2's. Rogers and Cederlind would tie the match at 1-1 with a 21-15, 21-19 victory over Emma Zuffelato and Kalee Graff in the 4's. Sweeting and Griego then put the Matadors one win from advancing after sweeping Margo Smith and Susie Lloyd, 22-20, 21-16 in the No. 5 pair. The final two pairs would go the distance with both going to the Mustangs as Piper Naess and Jayelin Lombard topped Eknoian and Mae, 21-12, 18-21, 15-9 once again setting up a winner-take-all on the No. 3 court. Cal Poly's Delaney Peranich and Brooke Golik claimed the opening set over Waggoner and Maughan 26-24 before the Matador pair took set two by the score of 21-18. The final set would go the Mustangs 16-14 as CSUN finished the season with a 17-16 record.
Â
COACH ARI HOMAYUNÂ SAID
"I couldn't have asked for a better effort from the girls. We needed to get a little better to compete and we did. I'm super proud of the girls and of how hard they battled. We're going to miss the seniors a ton and the impact they have had on this program but excited to see this group continue to grow."
UC DAVISÂ 3, CSUNÂ 2
#1 - Colleen McGuire/Kylie Miller (UCD) def. Lauren Eknoian/Tasha Mae (CSUN) 12-21, 21-18, 15-6
#2 - Emily Sparks/Mac McCarthy (CSUN) def. Tabitha Mitchell/Finley Robbins (UCD) 21-19, 21-19
#3 - Mia Olen/Megan Luly (UCD) def. Seyvion Waggoner/Mikaela Maughan (CSUN) 21-19, 21-16
#4 - Victoria Rogers/Layla Cederlind (CSUN) def. Isabelle Comes/Alicia Letvin (UCD)Â 21-19, 21-19
#5 - Morgan Coolbaugh/Sam Lazenby (UCD) def. Abbey Sweeting/Gabriela Griego (CSUN) 21-15, 17-21, 16-14
Â
CSUNÂ 3, SACRAMENTO STATE 2
1. Lauren Eknoian/Tasha Mae (CSUN) def. Kalani Hayes/Bridgette Smith (SAC) 21-18, 21-12
2. Caitlin Volkmann/Ellie Tisko (SAC) def. Emily Sparks/Mac McCarthy (CSUN) 21-16, 16-21, 16-14
3. Mikaela Maughan/Seyvion Waggoner (CSUN) def. Greta Davis/Tiya Kamba-Griffin (SAC) 21-19, 13-21, 15-13
4. Layla Cederlind/Victoria Rogers (CSUN) def. Ashlynn Archer/Carrie Crom (SAC) 21-9, 21-9
5. Hailey Plugge/Caty Cordano (SAC) def. Abbey Sweeting/Gabriela Griego (CSUN) 21-18, 19-21, 15-9
CAL POLYÂ 3, CSUNÂ 2
1. Piper Naess/Jayelin Lombard (CP) def. Lauren Eknoian/Tasha Mae (CSUN) 21-12, 18-21, 15-9
2. Piper Ferch/Izzy Martinez (CP) def. Emily Sparks/Mac McCarthy (CSUN) 21-19, 21-12
3. Delaney Peranich/Brooke Golik (CP) def. Mikaela Maughan/Seyvion Waggoner (CSUN) 26-24, 18-21, 16-14
4. Victoria Rogers/Layla Cederlind (CSUN) def. Emma Zuffelato/Kalee Graff (CP) 21-15, 21-19
5. Abbey Sweeting/Gabriela Griego (CSUN) def. Margo Smith/Susie Lloyd (CP) 22-20, 21-16
#GoMatadors
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