Vaqueros Close Out Non-Conference Play With Two Comfortable Wins

By Jimmy Friery

WALNUT, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Beach Volleyball team (6-4) wrapped up their non-conference schedule on Friday with two comfortable wins on the road. After defeating El Camino 5-0—all in straight sets—they defeated hosts Mt. San Antonio 4-1.

"The girls played outstanding today," head coach Ariana Garner said. "After a very tough week of practice preparing for extreme heat, they showed incredible resilience and composure. Their ability to battle through the conditions was a direct reflection of the hard work and focus they brought to practice all week.

"We're proud of the way they competed and supported each other."

In the late morning heat of east Los Angeles County, the Vaqueros were smart to make quick work of their opponents. In the first match against El Camino, they won all 10 sets in the five pairs matches, with the closest being a 21-14 first set on court one.

No. 4 pair Sophie Ward and Giulia Sophie Gentile—moving up a spot from last week's lineup—had the best result with a 21-6, 21-9 win.

Immediately following, the Vaqueros matched up against Mt. San Antonio; the hosts had a welcomed break after beating El Camino 4-1 earlier in the morning. But the Vaqueros' quality proved too much.

Tana Long and Lina Husek moved up from court three to court two for the match, winning comfortably 21-15, 21-9. Pairs three, four, and five all followed suit with sweeps, clinching the team match. The only defeat was a tight 16-21, 21-16, 15-13 match on court one.

"Now, we look forward to getting back to the drawing board as we prepare for the start of conference next week," Garner concluded. "We open with two tough opponents, and we're excited for the challenge and opportunity to keep improving."

It will be an important start to conference play next Friday, March 6, as Santa Barbara hosts two quality programs in Santa Monica and Ventura beginning 11 a.m. at East Beach.

Match one: Santa Barbara def. El Camino 5-0

1s: Stenz/Papia (SBCC) def. Puleri/Watanabe (ECC) 21-14, 21-10
2s: Genasci/Cooney (SBCC) def. B. Ober/Albaresh (ECC) 21-9, 21-9
3s: Long/Husek (SBCC) def. Sapitanan/A. Ober (ECC) 21-10, 21-11
4s: Ward/Gentile (SBCC) def. Ramirez/Morales (ECC) 21-6, 21-9
5s: Chapman/Groswirt (SBCC) def. Templeton/Itani (ECC) 21-10, 21-12

Match two: Santa Barbara def. Mt. San Antonio 4-1

1s: Carson/Fisher (MSA) def. Stenz/Papia (SBCC) 16-21, 21-16, 15-13
2s: Long/Husek (SBCC) def. Valentine/Wilson (MSA) 21-15, 21-9
3s: Cooney/Genasci (SBCC) def. Staveley/Silva (MSA) 21-16, 21-13
4s: Ward/Gentile (SBCC) def. Fairley/Stampley (MSA) 21-10, 21-14
5s: Chapman/Groswirt (SBCC) def. Estrada/Ross (MSA) 21-12, 21-17