SAN LUIS OBISPO, California – Sacramento State dropped a pair on the first day of the Big West Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament. The Hornets fell in their opening game against Long Beach State, who placed 11th, 5-0, before losing to CSUN in the second round 4-1.
With the losses, the Hornets season comes to an end. As has happened for most of the season, Sacramento State had to forgo doubles in both competitions today, because the team didn’t have enough physical strength to make it to the five-doubles match. Sacramento State dropped the number 4 doubles match in every game.
In both competitions, Hornet used Bridgette Smith/Caitlin Volkmann in 1st place, Kalani Hayes/Macey Hayden in second place, McKenna Smith/Karlee Soderberg in 3rd place, and Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin/Ellie Tisko in 5th place. Ashtin Olin unable to play today, a tough blow for the Hornets as the M. Smith/Olin tandem has a 10-3 record this season.
While each doubles match against nationally ranked Bang Long Beach (20-12) ended in straight sets, the one against CSUN (17-16) was much closer.
In fact, two of those matches were in three sets. That includes the Volkmann/B. Smith parallel winning No. 1 with a score of 21-17, 18-21, 15-10. In 5th place, Kamba-Griffin / Tisko almost fell 21-16, 20-22, 15-11. In 2nd place, Hayes/Hayden lost in two tight sets, 21-19, 21-18.
The win goes to B. Smith / Volkmann as the 10th-placed team of the season.
Today marks the final beach game of Hayden and McKenna Smith. The youngest sport on campus, Sacramento State played its 10th season of beach volleyball this year.
