California State University Northridge Athletics
California State University at Northridge
Concordia Irvine
CSUN Drops Tight 3-2 Decision to Concordia Irvine in Season Opener
2/20/2026 2:20:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
The Matadors (0-1) picked up victories at the No. 1 and No. 5 positions but came up short in three tightly contested three-set matches as the Golden Eagles secured the clinching point on court three.
CSUN struck first when Phoebe Constable and Ava Rogers swept Julie Watney and Madi Kelly 21-14, 21-16 at No. 5. The straight-set win gave the Matadors an early 1-0 lead in the dual.
Concordia answered on court four, where Jordan Vander Veen and Rosie Cline edged Haley Coggins and Daysha Halbert in three sets, 21-15, 20-22, 15-13, to even the dual at 1-1. The Eagles then took a 2-1 lead after Gabby Reinking and Lexi Godbey outlasted Tia Mendiola and Dylan Hall 21-19, 15-21, 15-12 at No. 2.
The deciding match came on court three, where Concordia's Kelia Giusta and Ashley Rossi rebounded from a first-set loss to defeat Jill Rodig and Zaria Henderson 14-21, 21-15, 16-14. The Eagles' three-set win clinched the dual.
CSUN's top pair of Maleya Miles and Hannah Heflin closed the team scoring, posting a 21-19, 22-20 victory over Olivia Medina and Aliyah Moore at No. 1, fighting off a late push in the second set to make the final team tally, 3-2.
HEAD COACH JEFF HALL SAID
"I'm not disappointed. I think we played a little tight, which is typical of a first dual of the year. But the girls stepped up in moments. We talk about the value of one point, and when you lose by two points here in two different sets to lose the dual, that's the difference. Concordia has been a great team for a long time, with tradition and grad transfers galore. I love our opportunities when we play them again, but they were better than us today."
UP NEXT
CSUN will play its next six duals away from home, beginning next Friday as the Matadors open the Battle for Los Angeles tournament against No. 4 USC and Pepperdine at Merle Norman Stadium.
CONCORDIA IRVINE 3, CSUN 2
#1. Miles/Heflin (CSUN) def. Medina/Moore (CUI), 21-19, 22-20
#2. Reinking/Godbey (CUI) def. Mendiola/Hall (CSUN), 21-19, 15-21, 15-12
#3. Giusta/Rossi (CUI) def. Rodig/Henderson (CSUN), 14-21, 21-15, 16-14
#4. Vander Veen/Cline (CUI) def. Coggins/Halbert (CSUN), 21-15. 20-22, 15-13
#5. Constable/Rogers (CSUN) def. Watney/Kelly (CUI), 21-14, 21-16
#6. (Exh.) Algarra/Hugeback (CUI) def. Brandlin/Gilbert (CSUN), 21-12, 22-20
#GoMatadors
