Beach Volleyball Begins Conference Play 4-0

By Jimmy Friery

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Beach Volleyball team (10-4, 4-0) won both of their conference matches once again at Cuesta on Friday—4-1 over Moorpark and 5-0 over Cuesta. The Vaqueros are the last remaining undefeated team in Western State Conference (WSC) play.

"Really proud of this squad and confident that if we keep putting in the work, great things will continue to come our way," head coach Ariana Garner said.

The Vaqueros began the day against Moorpark, winning all their matches on courts two through five. A new team—Camryn Chapman and Giulia Sophie Gentile—had the biggest win at 21-11, 21-11 on court five. Tana Long and Lina Husek won a 18-21, 21-8, 15-10 three-setter on court three. No. 1 pair Maddie Papia and Abigail Stenz had the only point dropped, but not for lack of trying; both the first two sets went to extra points in a competitive 20-22, 23-21, 15-11 match.

Soon after, Santa Barbara faced Cuesta, sweeping the hosts. All five pairs won one of their sets allowing less than 10 points. No. 3 pair Sophie Ward and Stephanie Groswirt—a new pairing, who moved up from the previous match—won 21-3, 21-15. No. 2 pair Kaylin Cooney and Madison Genasci finished off the shutout with a 19-21, 21-9, 15-13 victory.

"Our team continues to prove that all the hard work we've put in is paying off," Garner continued. "From top to bottom, this group is strong, and I feel like all five of our teams are competing at a really high level right now. We're excited to get back to practice this week and prepare for another tough matchup against Santa Monica."

Next Friday, the Vaqueros wrap up their season series with Santa Monica, one of the two teams on the Vaqueros' heels with a 3-1 WSC record (Ventura). In the previous matchup at East Beach, the Vaqueros won 4-1. Before that rematch, though, the Vaqueros play Glendale—the hosts of the day—at 10 a.m.

Match one: Santa Barbara def. Moorpark 4-1

1s: Thomas/Makino (MC) def. Papia/Stenz (SBCC) 20-22, 23-21, 15-11
2s: Cooney/Genasci (SBCC) def. Velu/Velarde (MC) 21-18, 21-19
3s: Long/Husek (SBCC) def. Saiki/Galstian (MC) 18-21, 21-8, 15-10
4s: Ward/Groswirt (SBCC) def. Lagatutta/Campisi (MC) 21-14, 21-13
5s: Chapman/Gentile (SBCC) def. Williams-Varga/Neheme (MC) 21-11, 21-11

Match two: Santa Barbara def. Cuesta 5-0

1s: Papia/Stenz (SBCC) def. Bennett/Brown (CUE) 21-7, 21-15
2s: Cooney/Genasci (SBCC) def. Porter/Trimble (CUE) 19-21, 21-9, 15-13
3s: Ward/Groswirt (SBCC) def. Hesch/Cuadros (CUE) 21-3, 21-15
4s: Long/Husek (SBCC) def. McDermott/Holland (CUE) 21-9, 21-16
5s: Chapman/Gentile (SBCC) def. Bolton/Westervelt (CUE) 21-8, 21-13