No. 16 Beach Volleyball Splits the First Day of the Battle for LA

Saturday, March 11

Los Angeles, Calif.

10 a.m.

Long Beach State University

USC

Photo by: Dimitris Papakosmas

No. 16 Beach Volleyball Splits the First Day of the Battle for LA

3/11/2023 4:39:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

The Beach fell to USC in the first match of the day but bounced back to win against Concordia.

By: Maxime Garcia, Athletic Communications Intern

LOS ANGELES, Calif.- The No. 16-ranked Long Beach State beach volleyball team split their first duals of the Battle for L.A. on Saturday. The Beach fell in their rematch against No. 2 USC, 4-1, before responding with a 4-1 win over Concordia.

After losing to No. 2 USC on the first day of the season, the Beach looked for revenge against the Trojans. Unfortunately, they fell short losing the dual 4-1. The first flight ended in close sets with USC edging out the pair of Christine DeRoos and Mari Molina. Emily Mattoon and Megan Widener battled back and forth in both of their sets against the Trojans forcing extra points in both sets, but falling 22-24 and 20-22.

Looking to avoid a sweep, the fifth flight pair of Maggie Walters and Natalie Glenn took their opponents to a third set and poked a high line to finish the game and get Long Beach their only dual point.

After a break between matches, the Beach were back on the courts against Concordia where they saw all pairs except one win in straight sets. Christine DeRoos and Mari Molina may have had a close first set, but posted the most lopside set win, only giving up five points in their second set. The freshmen duo of Gementera and Hagenah also only gave up seven points in their second set to secure the dual win for the Beach.

Natalie Glenn took her second match of the day with new partner Savannah Lyons in the fifth flight. In a back and forth first set, they took down the Eagles 21-19 with Lyons registering a big block to secure the 21-13 second set victory and secure the last dual point of the day for the Beach.

The Beach continues the Battle for L.A. tomorrow starting the day against No. 3 UCLA at 10 a.m.
and facing Florida Atlantic at 12 p.m. Both games will be played at UCLA.

No. 2 USC def. No. 16 Long Beach State, 4-1
1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Sydney STEVENS/Julia WESTBY (LBSU); 21-17, 21-19
2. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) def. Christine DEROOS/Mari MOLINA (LBSU); 21-14, 21-19
3. Madison SHIELDS/Madison WHITE (USC) def. Malia GEMENTERA/Taylor HAGENAH (LBSU); 21-18, 23-21
4. Olivia BAKOS/Gabby WALKER (USC) def. Emily MATTOON/Megan WIDENER (LBSU); 24-22, 22-20
5. Natalie GLENN/Maggie WALTERS (LBSU) def. Delaney KARL/Ashlyn RASNICK-POPE (USC); 27-25, 18-21, 15-13
Exh. Bailey SHOWALTER/Mabyn THOMAS (USC) def. Haley CARRINGTON/Holly JACKSON (LBSU); 22-20; 21-17
Order of finish: 2, 4, 1*, 3, 5

No. 16 Long Beach State vs. Concordia, 4-1
1. Sydney STEVENS/Julia WESTBY (LBSU) def. Olivia HIGHSTREET/Hannah PHAIR (CUI); 21-16, 21-11
2. Christine DEROOS/Mari MOLINA (LBSU) def. Kelia GIUSTA/Hailee RYAN (CUI); 21-17, 21-5
3. Malia GEMENTERA/Taylor HAGENAH (LBSU) def. Isabella BUSH/Makena HOUSTON (CUI); 21-11, 21-7
4. Sara OSTOJIC/Tatum SMITH (CUI) def. Holly JACKSON/Megan WIDENER (LBSU); 21-14, 21-13
5. Natalie GLENN/Savannah LYONS (LBSU) def. Kelissa LEMOINE/Eva PREWITT (CUI); 21-19, 21-13
Exh. Haley CARRINGTON/Kate STOUGHTON (LBSU) def. Lauren CLIFTON/Ashleigh SOUZA (CUI); 21-15, 21-7
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5. ,3*, 1