Beach Volleyball Tops Conference With Two Matches Remaining

By Jimmy Friery

VENTURA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Beach Volleyball team (15-5, 9-1) clinched at least a share of the regular season Western State Conference (WSC) title on Friday with wins over Bakersfield and Ventura.

At Ventura's Harbor Cove Courts, the Vaqueros first beat Bakersfield 5-0—all sweeps—before grinding out a 3-2 win over the hosts. No. 4 pair Giulia Sophie Gentile and Camryn Chapman clinched it with a 21-14, 16-21, 17-15 victory.

"Proud of the way our girls battled," head coach Ariana Garner said. "Since the middle of the season, we've had a long push, and their dedication and hard work day in and day out have earned them first place in the WSC—a well-deserved achievement."

A week prior, the Vaqueros beat Bakersfield 5-0, winning every set. This Friday was no different, but with multiple new pairings. No. 2 Kaylin Cooney and Lina Husek won 21-5, 21-4, and Gentile/Chapman similarly won 21-14, 21-4 playing on court five. No. 3 Tana Long and Sophie Ward dominated 21-9, 21-8.

Match two against Ventura was a different challenge. Santa Barbara won 4-1 back on March 6 at East Beach, but this match was on Ventura's home court and with the chance to clinch the regular season conference championship.

Four of the matches were relatively straightforward. The Pirates took straight-set wins on courts one and two as Santa Barbara did the same on courts three and five.

So, all eyes turned toward court four. Moving up from the Bakersfield match, Gentile and Chapman were in a battle after winning the first set 21-14 but losing the second 21-16. The only Santa Barbara pair to have a match go three sets on the day, they remained tough—and clutch. Down 14-12, they staved off two match points before winning in extra points, 17-15, to clinch victory for the Vaqueros.

"With just one week left of competition before our pairs conference tournament, followed by team regionals, we're excited to keep competing and—most importantly—having fun for the remainder of the season," Garner concluded.

Holding a two-match lead over both Santa Monica and Moorpark, the Vaqueros can win the regular season conference title outright with any win next Friday. They travel to Moorpark with matches against Cuesta and Glendale.

Match one: Santa Barbara def. Bakersfield 5-0

1s: Stenz/Papia (SBCC) def. Wolf/Lopez (BC) 21-14, 21-17
2s: Cooney/Husek (SBCC) def. Barron/Zepeda (BC) 21-15, 21-4
3s: Long/Ward (SBCC) def. King/Sierra (BC) 21-9, 21-8
4s: Genasci/Groswirt (SBCC) def. Dela Cruz/Hawkins (BC) 21-11, 21-17
5s: Gentile/Chapman (SBCC) def. Naranjo/Sterling (BC) 21-14, 21-4

Match two: Santa Barbara def. Ventura 3-2

1s: Daniels/Barrios (VC) def. Stenz/Papia (SBCC) 21-15, 21-13
2s: Alfar/Lishman (VC) def. Cooney/Husek (SBCC) 22-20, 21-12
3s: Long/Ward (SBCC) def. Olson/Ramessar (VC) 21-4, 21-16
4s: Gentile/Chapman (SBCC) def. Mierau/Boyso (VC) 21-14, 16-21, 17-15
5s: Genasci/Groswirt (SBCC) def. Ibarra/Hantgin (VC) 21-10, 21-15