IRVINE, Calif. – The 2020 beach volleyball season opener was a success for the Concordia Eagles on Friday as CUI came away with a pair of wins at the Great Park.
 
"(Starting the season with a win) feels great, it is good to see the girls hard work and perseverance pay off" said interim head coach Jenny Griffiths. "These girls are amazing."
 
To start off the day, the Eagles had a clean sweep of the Chargers, limiting its opponent to single digits in seven of the ten sets played. The bottom flights cruised through the first round with Kya Bock and Cambria Fernandez coming out on top first. The pairs at the fours and fives followed right behind with wins to clinch the dual win.
 
The momentum picked up in the second dual, with The Master's posting a challenge for Concordia. Bock and Fernandez repeated as the first winners for CUI, to put them up 1-0. Alexis Dirige and Shannon Evans went the distance with the Mustangs, going to three sets and coming out victorious 19-17 in the third.
 
Mia Corippo and Asia O'Neil also went to three sets, and went even further into extra play, dropping the match 23-21 but as a pair went 1-1 for the day.
 
The duo of Avery Keathley and Hailee Ryan, the only pair that stayed intact from the previous season, cruised in their final match, which clinched the dual for the Eagles.
 
"It is always exciting to get a win. I am more excited about where I see this team going as we attack each day with the long game mindset," added Griffiths. "These girls have shown character and resilience through difficult times and that is something we can build on!"
 
The Eagles will head on the road for its next matches, taking on No. 12 Long Beach State and Vanguard on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in Long Beach. For the full beach volleyball schedule, click here.
 
Concordia 5, Cypress College 0
1. Vanessa Bernzen/Ellie Cary (CUI) def. (Cypress) 2-0 (21-9, 21-9)
2. Avery Keathley/Hailee Ryan (CUI) def. (Cypress) 2-0 (21-11, 21-9)
3. Mia Corippo/Asia O'Neil (CUI) def. (Cypress) 2-0 (21-16, 21-12)
4. Alexis Dirige/Shannon Evans (CUI) def. (Cypress) 2-0 (21-9, 21-8)
5. Kya Bock/Cambria Fernandez (CUI) def. (Cypress) 2-0 (21-7, 21-5)
 
Concordia 4, The Master's 1
1. Vanessa Bernzen/Ellie Cary (CUI) def. (The Master's) 2-0 (21-16, 23-21)
2. Avery Keathley/Hailee Ryan (CUI) def. (The Master's) 2-0 (21-7, 21-14)
3. (The Master's) def. Mia Corippo/Asia O'Neil (CUI) 2-1 (19-21, 21-14, 23-21)
4. Alexis Dirige/Shannon Evans (CUI) def. (The Master's) 2-1 (21-14, 18-21, 19-17)
5. Kya Bock/Cambria Fernandez (CUI) def. (The Master's) 2-0 (21-6, 21-12)