Beach Volleyball Defeats Sac State, Finishes 2-4 at Big West Challenge

Sunday, March 22

Long Beach, Calif.

10:20 AM

California State University at Northridge

Sacramento State

Photo by: Steve Fitzgerald

Beach Volleyball Defeats Sac State, Finishes 2-4 at Big West Challenge

3/22/2026 5:43:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Seeking to match its best-ever finish at the Big West Challenge, CSUN Beach Volleyball came up just short of three wins as the Matadors finished 1-2 on the second and final day of the event on Sunday at Rosie's Dog Beach. After finishing 1-2 on Saturday, CSUN opened the day with a 4-1 win over Sacramento State, before falling to No. 13 Hawai'i (4-1) and UC Davis (3-2) to wrap up the weekend.

CSUN 4, SACRAMENTO STATE 1
The Matadors opened Sunday against the Hornets and claimed wins in the first four pairs to earn their second win of the weekend. Dylan Hall and Ava Rogers opened the scoring with an impressive 21-12, 21-13 sweep over Kate Dorn and Mia Guevara on the No. 3 court. Hannah Heflin and Maleya Miles made it 2-0 CSUN with a 21-14, 27-25 win over Reese Ampi and Ashlynn Archer in the No. 1 pair.

Haley Coggins and Daysha Halbert clinched the win on the No. 5 court, taking a 21-18, 19-21, 15-10 victory over Skyler Gartin and Keonahi'ila Solaits, before Jill Rodig and Ainsley Patrick gave the Matadors their fourth win, 21-14, 20-22, 15-11 over Karlie Spohn and Greta Davis at No. 4. The Hornets salvaged one win when Victoria Marthaler and Aurora Bibolotti held off Tia Mendiola and Zaria Henderson in the No. 2 pair by the score of 16-21, 21-19, 15-12.

#13 HAWAI'I 4, CSUN 1
Looking for their first-ever win over the Rainbow Wahine, the Matadors got a pairs win from Hall and Rogers, but dropped the remaining four pairs to fall 4-1.

After Coggins and Halbert and Rodig and Patrick came up empty in straight sets at No. 5 and No. 4 to open the dual, Heflin and Miles fell 21-8, 21-13 at No. 1 as Hawai'i clinched the dual.

With a straight-set (21-18, 21-19) win over Julia Thelle and Sophie Buschmann, Hall and Rogers pulled the Matadors within 3-1 while earning CSUN's second pairs win over Hawai'i in 12 matches all time.

Rodig and Patrick then fell 21-13, 21-13 to Emily Heintzelman and Kiera Cornman at No. 4 to close out a 4-1 win for the Rainbow Wahine.

UC DAVIS 3, CSUN 2
Looking for their third win on the weekend, which would match the 2019 Matador team for CSUN's best-ever finish, the Matadors fell in a tight 3-2 decision to UC Davis.

The Aggies claimed the opening point of the dual when Ava Berard and Kirra Martin swept Coggins and Halbert, 21-16, 25-23. Hall and Rogers pulled CSUN even with a three-set (19-21, 21-15, 15-11) win over Skye Smolinski and Kate O'Steen on the No. 3 court. Looking to put the Matadors in front, Rodig and Patrick would also go three sets before falling to Emma Johnson and Alexandra Leal, 18-21, 21-8, 15-10.

The Aggies would clinch the win on the No. 2 court when Kaitlynn Chastain and Shelby Santos held off Mendiola and Henderson in three sets, 21-17, 15-21, 15-11. Heflin and Miles would make the final 3-2 with a hard-fought 25-27, 21-15, 18-16 win over Kinley Lindhart and Ella Erteltova at the No. 1 spot.

HEAD COACH JEFF HALL SAID
"A fun weekend of Big West competition. Had a couple of nice wins, fell short on a few, ready to get back to work on Monday."

UP NEXT
CSUN next travels to Irvine for a Friday (Mar. 27) tri-dual as the Matadors take on Vanguard at 9 a.m. and Concordia Irvine at 11 a.m.

#GoMatadors