Long Beach State University
Grand Canyon
No. 6 Beach Volleyball Sweeps No. 16 Grand Canyon, But Comes Up Just Short At No. 5 USC
4/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
Los Angeles, Calif. - No. 6 Long Beach State opened Tuesday's action at USC with a sweep of No. 16 Grand Canyon, but were one win away from toppling the hosts, falling 3-2 to No. 5 USC in a tri-dual at Merle Norman Stadium.
Long Beach State (23-4) won a seventh match this season against ranked opposition in a sweep of No. 16 Grand Canyon (11-15). Kristyna Adamcikova returned from injury for the Beach, and played with Hailey Harward at No. 4 where they won in straight sets 22-20, 21-16 over Natalie Honzovicova and Katie Sarber.
Hannah Matt and Marisa Ramsey also opened the day with a win, as Matt made 19 kills as the duo won in three sets over Jessica Clark and Jamie Walsh 21-17, 15-21, 15-11.
With the momentum, Long Beach State prevailed in the remaining three matches. Megan Kruidhof and Rachel Nieto dominated in a 21-12, 21-8 win over Bella Bauman and Jessica Stansfueld, making just four combined errors along with 25 digs, and Nele Barber and Sasha Karelov grabbed another win at No. 1 21-15, 22-20. Zoi Konstantopoulou and Nicci Reinking moved up to the threes, and came away with a hard-fought 21-19, 23-21 win over Katie Pyles and Madi Relaz to finish off the sweep.
In the second match, the Beach and USC (21-10) split the first two matches of the day at the fours and fives. Moving back to No. 4, Konstantopoulou and Reinking defeated Jenna Belton and Maja Kaiser 21-11, 21-15 to grab the first win of the day, but Hailey Hallgren and Alexandra Poletto gave Matt/Ramsey just their third loss of the year by a score of 21-16, 20-22, 15-13.
That flight would be the closest on the day. Kruidhof and Nieto won convincingly at No. 2 over Joy Dennis and Cammie Dorn, 21-13, 21-8 to put the Beach on top 2-1 in the match, but the Trojans answered back with a 21-9, 21-15 win over Adamcikova/Harward by Terese Cannon and Sammy Slater.
Leaving only the top flight, Long Beach State lost the first set and Abril Bustamante and Tina Graudina pulled away late to defeat Barber/Karelov 21-18, 21-18 to take the match.
Long Beach State closes out the regular season at home against No. 1 UCLA at 1 p.m. on Thursday at the LBSU Sand Courts.
#6 Long Beach State 5, #16 Grand Canyon 0
1) Nele Barber/Sasha Karelov (LBSU) def. Hannah Towne/Molly Turner (GCU); 21-15, 22-20
2) Megan Kruidof/Rachel Nieto (LBSU) def. Bella Bauman/Jessica Stansfield (GCU); 21-12, 21-8
3) Zoi Konstantopoulou/Nicci Reinking (LBSU) def. Katie Pyles/Madi Relaz (GCU); 21-19, 23-21
4) Kristyna Adamcikova/Hailey Harward (LBSU) def. Natalie Honzovicova/Katie Sarber (GCU); 22-20, 21-16
5) Hannah Matt/Marisa Ramsey (LBSU) def. Jessica Clark/Jamie Walsh (GCU); 21-17, 15-21, 15-11
#5 USC 3, #6 Long Beach State 2
1) Abril Bustamante/Tina Graudina (USC) def. Nele Barber/Sasha Karelov (LBSU); 21-18, 21-18
2) Megan Kruidof/Rachel Nieto (LBSU) def. Joy Dennis/Cammie Dorn (USC); 21-13, 21-8
3) Terese Cannon/Sammy Slater (USC) def. Kristyna Adamcikova/Hailey Harward (LBSU); 21-9, 21-15
4) Zoi Konstantopoulou/Nicci Reinking (LBSU) def. Jenna Belton/Maja Kaiser (USC); 21-11, 21-15
5) Haley Hallgren/Alexandra Poletto (USC) def. Hannah Matt/Marisa Ramsey (LBSU); 21-16, 20-22, 15-13
