Long Beach State Defeats No. 12 LSU To Close Texas Invitational

Saturday, March 28

Austin, Texas

6 a.m. PT

Long Beach State University

LSU

Long Beach State Defeats No. 12 LSU To Close Texas Invitational

3/28/2026 11:39:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball

The Beach defeated the Tigers before falling to the hosts, No. 6 Texas.

By: Roger Kirk, Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Broadcast

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 10 Beach Volleyball finished the Texas Invitational with a 3-1 overall mark against four ranked southern programs, defeating No. 12 LSU 3-2 before losing to the hosts No. 6 Texas 4-1 in their final match of the tournament.

Long Beach State (18-6) started the day by defeating No. 12 LSU (13-12) for the first time since 2017 in the fourth meeting between the teams. The Beach split the first wave, as Kealoha Phillips and Brooke Birch remained unbeaten in Texas with a 19-21, 21-14, 16-14 win over Forbes Hall and former Long Beach State women's volleyball player Zayna Meyer. Emily Hellmuth and Kate Baker earned a point for the Tigers at the fours in a 22-20, 21-15 win over Victoria Henkel and Josie Gamberdella.

The top of the lineup continued their strong play to close out the win over the Tigers. Taylor Hagenah and Malia Gementera won in straight sets, 21-18, 21-13 over Kenzey McGatlin and Julia Specher in the top flight. Tineke Hinton and Demi Wagdy clinched the win, also in straight sets, winning 21-17, 21-19 in the second flight.

In another three-set defeat, Aubrey O'Gorman and Bella Lagemann won a tight match with Kiara Edwards and Savannah Standage 21-9, 19-21, 16-14 to take the second point of the dual for LSU.

Birch and Phillips finished the weekend unbeaten, moving up to the fourth flight and fighting off Macey Butler and Savannah Thomas 13-21, 21-16, 15-12 for a win against Texas (15-6). That evened up the first wave following a loss from Henkel and Gamberdella at the fives.

Edwards and Standage had another very close match in the second wave, falling 21-13, 15-21, 15-10 against Emma Grace Robertson and Lily Davis at the threes, but Texas won all three matches to take the dual on their home courts 4-1.

Long Beach State returns to California to compete in the Best in the West tournament on April 3-4 in Laguna Beach, facing four other programs in the Top 10.

#10 Long Beach State 3, #12 LSU 2
1) Taylor Hagenah / Malia Gementera (LBSU) def. Kenzey McGatlin / Julia Sprecher (LSU) 21-18, 21-13
2) Tineke Hinton / Demi Wagdy (LBSU) def. Tatum Finlason / Skylar Martin (LSU) 21-17, 21-19
3) Aubrey O'Gorman / Bella Lagemann (LSU) def. Kiara Edwards / Savannah Standage (LBSU) 21-9, 19-21, 16-14
4) Emily Hellmuth / Kate Baker (LSU) def. Victoria Henkel / Josie Gamberdella (LBSU) 22-20, 21-15
5) Kealoha Phillips / Brooke Birch (LBSU) def. Zayna Meyer / Forbes Hall (LSU) 19-21, 21-14, 16-14
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3

#6 Texas 4, #10 Long Beach State 1
1) Brecht Piersma / Katie Hashman (Texas) def. Taylor Hagenah / Malia Gementera (LBSU) 21-17, 21-18
2) Anna Pavelkova / Kacka Pavelkova (Texas) def. Tineke Hinton / Demi Wagdy (LBSU) 21-11, 21-15
3) Emma Grace Robertson / Lily Davis (Texas) def. Kiara Edwards / Savannah Standage (LBSU) 21-13, 15-21, 15-10
4) Kealoha Phillips / Brooke Birch (LBSU) def. Macey Butler / Savannah Thomas (Texas) 13-21, 21-16, 15-12
5) Karin Zolnercikova / Chloe Charles (Texas) def. Victoria Henkel / Josie Gamberdella (LBSU) 21-17, 23-21
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2, 1, 3