Long Beach State University
TCU
No. 7 Long Beach State Drops Two Matches On First Day Of Center Of Effort Challenge
4/12/2024 5:54:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
The Beach lost two matches to a pair of top five opponents.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Long Beach State lost a close 3-2 match against No. 5 TCU and got swept by No. 2 USC as the Beach opened up competition at the Center of Effort Challenge hosted by Cal Poly.
The Beach (21-7) battled in their first game of the tournament against TCU (24-5). The first flight duo of Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah had no problem defeating their opponents who were 21-1 on the season. Hagenah hammered a shot down the line to give Long Beach State their first dual point. The second, fourth and fifth flight pairs all dropped the first set but battled back to win the second. The fifth flight duo were up in the third set but ultimately couldn't find their footing. TCU was able to tie up the dual at 1-1. Long Beach State answered with a dominant performance at the fourth flight. Megan Widener and Emily Sparks had total control of their second and third sets to once again put the Beach up in the dual. TCU came back with a win at the second flight. After winning a long first set at the third flight, TCU was able to keep the momentum and take the dual.
After battling with TCU in the morning, Long Beach State took on the defending National Champions in USC (26-3). The second flight featured a first set that Natalie Glenn and Julia Westby pushed to to 29-27, but ended in favor of the Trojans. The Beach rallied in the second set but couldn't come up with a win. The first flight pair was also right on the heels of their opponents but also fell in straight sets. The fifth flight pair of Haley Carrington and Livi Naranich was able to snag a set from the Trojans, but ultimately fell in the third set.
Long Beach State will wrap up the Center of Effort Challenge taking on Pepperdine at 11:30 a.m. and one other pool opponent.
#5 TCU 3, #7 Long Beach State 2
1. Malia Gementera/Taylor Hagenah (LBSU) def. Hailey Hamlet/Sutton MacTavish (TCU) 21-18, 21-14
2. Ana Vergara/Anhelina Khmil (TCU) def. Natalie Glenn/Julia Westby (LBSU) 21-17, 14-21, 15-11
3. Tara Patton/Morgan Williams (TCU) def. Savannah Standage/Christine Deroos (LBSU) 38-36, 21-14
4. Megan Widener/Emily Sparks (LBSU) def. Anete Namike/Emma Glagau (TCU) 13-21, 21-17, 15-9
5. Keagan Polk/Olivia Clines (TCU) def. Haley Carrington/Livi Narancich (LBSU) 21-17, 17-21, 15-9
Order of finish: 1, 5, 4, 2, 3*
#2 USC 5, #7 Long Beach State 0
1. Laynie Maple/Megan Kraft (USC) def. Malia Gementera/Taylor Hagenah (LBSU) 21-17, 21-18
2. Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) def. Natalie Glenn/Julia Westby (LBSU) 29-27, 21-14
3. Maddi Kriz/Madison White (USC) def. Savannah Standage/Christine Deroos (LBSU) 22-20, 21-14
4. Grace Seits/Ashley Pater (USC) def. Megan Widener/Emily Sparks (LBSU) 21-10, 21-16
5. Mabyn Thomas/Madison Goellner (USC) def. Haley Carrington/Livi Narancich (LBSU) 21-18, 19-21, 15-3
Order of finish: 4, 1, 3* 2, 5
