SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University beach volleyball team is riding high, achieving a program-best 4-0 start to the season after securing victories over San Francisco and Pacific on Saturday at the Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Courts.
The Broncos surpassed their previous best start of 2-0, set in 2022, with a 3-2 win against the University of San Francisco Dons and a decisive 5-0 sweep of the Pacific Tigers. Santa Clara had previously started the 2016 season with a 7-1 record.
The match against San Francisco proved to be a tightly contested battle. Avery Cukjati and Sadie Snipes delivered a crucial point at the No. 1 pairing, defeating McKenna Towne and Kaydence Stormes in two sets, 22-20, 21-11. Ciara Cantlen and Noelle Niederman followed suit with a dominant performance at No. 4, securing a straight-set victory over Lucy Speier and Jacquelyn Strawn, 21-8, 21-15.
Callie Loughran and Ava Stoddard clinched the dual match for Santa Clara at the No. 5 position, topping Nadia Murray Ceriello and Burkleigh Smith 21-12, 21-14. However, San Francisco fought back, claiming points at No. 2 and No. 3. Jia Lonardi and Rainie Stevens defeated Teagan Wilson and Sammy Wood 21-18, 22-20, while Branson Lennon and Rylie Reeves overcame Reilly Rose Gilliland and Alexandra Urbina 21-17, 21-19.
The Broncos didn’t carry that same level of challenge into their afternoon match against Pacific. Santa Clara secured its third sweep in four matches with a commanding 5-0 victory over the Tigers. Cukjati and Snipes once again led the way at No. 1, defeating Jocelyn Abougoush and Samantha Holley 21-18, 21-16. Wilson and Wood followed with a 23-21, 21-12 win over Abby Miller and Kelea Saxton Vaka at No. 2.
The No. 3 pairing of Gilliland and Urbina secured a hard-fought victory over Zara Crawford and Josephine Kinlan, 29-27, 21-12. Cantlen and Niederman added a 21-12, 21-16 win at No. 4, and Loughran and Stoddard capped off the sweep at No. 5 with a decisive 21-10, 21-7 win against Jayhlin Swain and Francesca Zanotti.
Santa Clara will remain in the Bay Area next weekend for the Battle of The Bay tournament. The Broncos are scheduled to face San Francisco for a third time, as well as Stanford and Sacramento State, with a match against San Jose State also on the schedule.
Santa Clara 3, San Francisco 2
Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Courts – Santa Clara, Calif.
Feb. 21, 2026
- Avery Cukjati/Sadie Snipes (SCU) def. McKenna Towne/Kaydence Stormes (USF) 2-0: 22-20, 21-11
- Jia Lonardi/Rainie Stevens (USF) def. Teagan Wilson/Sammy Wood (SCU) 2-0: 21-18, 22-20
- Branson Lennon/Rylie Reeves (USF) def. Reilly Rose Gilliland/Alexandra Urbina (SCU) 2-0: 21-17, 21-19
- Ciara Cantlen/Noelle Niederman (SCU) def. Lucy Speier/Jacquelyn Strawn (USF) 2-0: 21-8, 21-15
- Callie Loughran/Ava Stoddard (SCU) def. Nadia Murray Ceriello/Burkleigh Smith (USF) 2-0: 21-12, 21-14
Santa Clara 5, Pacific 0
Santa Clara Beach Volleyball Courts – Santa Clara, Calif.
Feb. 21, 2026
- Cukjati/Snipes (SCU) def. Jocelyn Abougoush/Samantha Holley (PAC) 2-0: 21-18, 21-16
- Wilson/Wood (SCU) def. Abby Miller/Kelea Saxton Vaka (PAC) 2-0: 23-21, 21-12
- Gilliland/Urbina (SCU) def. Zara Crawford/Josephine Kinlan (PAC) 2-0: 29-27, 21-12
- Cantlen/Niederman (SCU) def. Makayla Beckett/Charlotte Gibson (PAC) 2-0: 21-12, 21-16
- Loughran/Stoddard (SCU) def. Jayhlin Swain/Francesca Zanotti (PAC) 2-0: 21-10, 21-7
