No. 10 Beach Volleyball Falls To Two Top Five Opponents

Friday, April 3

Laguna Beach, Calif.

10 a.m.

Long Beach State University

USC

4/3/2026 2:56:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

Three different pairs won matches on Saturday for the Beach despite the team defeats.

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

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – No. 10 Long Beach State nearly pulled off a stunner against No. 4 USC, falling 3-2 in the first of four matches as part of the Best of the West tournament in Laguna Beach.

Long Beach State (18-8) pushed No. 4 USC (22-4) to the edge, winning a pair of matches against the Trojans to start the tournament. USC won the first match of the day at the fives as Kyra Zaengle and Calinda Kok defeated Madi Collins and Victoria Henkel in straight sets.

The Beach bounced back quickly, though, winning in the third flight to even the match as Kiara Edwards and Savannah Standage defeated Bella Satterwhite and Kerry Keefe. USC won both at the twos and fours to clinch the overall win.

In the top flight, Long Beach State's Malia Gementera and Taylor Haganah won a close match with Zoey Henson and Sarah Wood. Gementera and Hagenah won the first set 21-19, and after eventually dropping the second 28-26, the senior duo closed out the win 15-12 in the third set.

Long Beach State stayed 2-0 in the top flight, as Hinton and Wagdy picked up a signature win against No. 1 Stanford (22-2), winning 21-15, 21-18 over Ruby Sorra and Brooke Rockwell. Gementera and Hagenah, playing at the twos, pushed Avery Jackson and Kelly Belardi but the Cardinal pair won 23-21, 21-18.

The Cardinal won the other three matches as well, finishing off a 4-1 victory over the Beach in the second matchup between the teams this season.

The Best of the West tournament continues on Saturday from Laguna Beach. Long Beach State will face No. 6 Cal Poly at 11 a.m. before wrapping up their time at the tournament against No. 2 UCLA at 3:30 p.m.

#4 USC 3, #10 Long Beach State 2
1) Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah (LBSU) def. Zoey Henson and Sarah Wood (USC), 21-19, 26-28, 15-12
2) Ashley Pater and Kennedy Coakley (USC) def. Tineke Hinton and Demi Wagdy (LBSU), 21-19, 21-11
3) Kiara Edwards and Savannah Standage (LBSU) def. Bella Satterwhite and Kerry Keefe (USC), 21-15, 21-19
4) Alana Embry and Quincy Stephens (USC) def. Kealoha Phillips and Brooke Birch (LBSU), 21-18, 21-16
5) Kyra Zaengle and Calinda Kok (USC) def. Madi Collins and Victoria Henkel (LBSU), 21-16, 21-14
Order of Finish: 5, 3, 2, 4, 1

#1 Stanford 4, #10 Long Beach State 1
1) Tineke Hinton and Demi Wagdy (LBSU) def. Ruby Sorra and Brooke Rockwell (STAN), 21-15, 21-18
2) Avery Jackson and Kelly Belardi (STAN) def. Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah (LBSU), 23-21, 21-18
3) Charlotta Bell and Logan Tusher (STAN) def. Kiara Edwards and Savannah Standage (LBSU), 21-13, 21-18
4) Clara Stowell and Indigo Clarke (STAN) def. Kealoha Phillips and Brooke Birch (LBSU), 21-16, 21-15
5) Chloe Hoffman and Elena Fisher (STAN) def. Nicole Lankton and Josie Gamberdella (LBSU), 21-16, 21-15
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 5, 1, 2