No. 11 Long Beach State Suffers Heartbreaking Loss to End Big West Tournament Run

Saturday, April 30

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

9 A.M.

Long Beach State University

UC Davis

Photo by: John Fajardo

No. 11 Long Beach State Suffers Heartbreaking Loss to End Big West Tournament Run

4/30/2022 12:10:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

The Beach took down UC Davis to advance to the second semi-final, but suffered a tough loss to Hawai’i and get eliminated from the conference tournament.

By: Collin Robinson, Associate Athletics Communications Director

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - No. 11 Long Beach State had their run in the Big West Tournament come to an unfortunate end on Saturday morning. In a pair of tough battles, the Beach took down UC Davis, 3-2, to begin the day and then fell in a heartbreaker to top-seeded Hawai'i.

After taking the first set in four of the five flights, Long Beach State ended up in third sets in all five. Katie Kennedy and Stevens came through with the victory in flight number two to give the Beach the first point of the day. Not long after, the duo of Christine Deroos and Sophie Major won the fifth flight with a dominant 15-6 victory in their third set. Emily Mattoon and Jillian Rodriguez battled back-and-forth in the three's, but secured the dual with a 17-15 third set victory over the Aggies.

Just 15-20 minutes of rest between matches, Long Beach State was immediately back on the courts for a dual with top-seeded Hawai'i. Claire Newlander and Nicci Reinking made quick work with a straight-set victory in flight number four to jump out in front. After the Rainbow Wahine took the next two points, the Beach found themselves leading in the decisive third and fifth flights. Deroos and Major made quick work in the five's to even the score at two points each setting up a dramatic ending for a spot in the championship.

The Beach jumped out to a four-point advantage, reaching 10 points first. Despite dealing with some injury concerns, Rodriguez battled play after play with Mattoon to keep LBSU in charge until the end. Unfortunately, the Rainbow Wahine were able to rally and eventually take the set, 15-13, and end the Beach's run in the conference tournament.

Long Beach State will now wait and see if they will continue onto the NCAA Championships with an at-large bid. The Selection Show takes place tonight at 6:00 p.m. PT live on ncaa.com

#11 Long Beach State 3, UC Davis 2
1. Colleen McGuire/Chelsea Maeglin (UCD) def. Alice Pratesi/Skyler Germann (LBSU) 17-21, 23-21, 15-10
2. Sydney Stevens/Katie Kennedy (LBSU) def. Tabitha Mitchell/Lily Justine (UCD) 21-10, 13-21, 15-11
3. Jillian Rodriguez/Emily Mattoon (LBSU) def. Megan Luly/Morgan Coolbaugh (UCD) 19-21, 21-13, 17-15
4. Rose Holscher/Ashlee Goycoochea (UCD) def. Claire Newlander/Nicci Reinking (LBSU) 15-21, 31-29, 15-11
5. Sophie Major/Christine DeRoos (LBSU) def. Kylie Miller/Sam Lazenby (UCD) 21-17, 16-21, 15-6
Order of finish: 2,5,3,1,4

#9 Hawai'i 3, #11 Long Beach State 2
1. Brooke Van Sickle/Kaylee Glagau (UH) def. Alice Pratesi/Skyler Germann (LBSU) 21-14, 21-18
2. Kylin Loker/Jaime Santer (UH) def. Sydney Stevens/Katie Kennedy (LBSU) 21-17, 21-16
3. Megan Widener/Sarah Penner (UH) def. Jillian Rodriguez/Emily Mattoon (LBSU) 21-18, 17-21, 16-14
4. Nicci Reinking/Claire Newlander (LBSU) def. Sofia Russo/Anna Maidment (UH) 21-15, 21-16
5. Sophie Major/Christine DeRoos (LBSU) def. Riley Wagoner/Ilihia Huddleston (UH) 15-21, 21-15, 15-9
Order of finish: 4,2,1,5,3