LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Concordia beach volleyball team took its first road trip of the season, taking on Vanguard, followed by the host, No. 12 Long Beach State. The Eagles came out with a 1-1 split, taking down the Lions 4-1, before seeing opposite results of a 4-1 loss to the Beach, the first loss for CUI this season.
 
Starting off the day against the Lions, the Eagles set the pace early, sweeping the bottom three courts. Kya Bock and Cambria Fernandez were the first to finish, holding Emilee Hall and Sydney Irwin to scores of 21-11, 21-16.
 
Heading into the second set of flights, CUI clinched the dual early, with the three's pair of Alexis Dirige and Shannon Evans sweeping Shay Piper and Kayla Tinker 21-19, 21-10. Vanguard was able to come away with a win at the two's but the top duo of Vanessa Bernzen and Ellie Cary pulled out a competitive win in three to close out the match.
 
Against the Beach, the Eagles fell behind in each of the first sets at the bottom flights. Bock and Fernandez held steady with their opponents, tied up at 16-all in the second. Long Beach State was able to secure the win at the one's, handing Bernzen and Cary their first loss of the season.
 
The two's of Avery Keathley and Hailee Ryan scored big for the Eagles, securing a point to avoid the sweep. The duo fell in the first set, 21-16, but edged the Beach 21-19 in the second. Leading 11-6 in the third, LBSU came back to take the lead at 13-12. Each team fought off a match point before the CUI pair came out on top 17-15.
 
The Eagles are set for three more duals this week, heading over to Irvine Valley College on Friday, Feb. 28, where they will face Santa Clara (9 a.m.), CSU Bakersfield (12 p.m.), and IVC (1 p.m.). For the full beach volleyball schedule, click here.
 
Concordia 4, Vanguard 1
1. Vanessa Bernzen/Ellie Cary (CUI) def. Conley Harris/Gabby Morrison (VU) 2-0 (21-19, 13-21, 21-19)
2. Kolby Bird/Kelli Dowell (VU) def. Avery Keathley/Hailee Ryan (CUI) 2-0 (21-16, 21-19)
3. Alexis Dirige/Shannon Evans (CUI) def. Shay Piper/Kayla Tinker (VU) 2-0 (21-19, 21-10)
4. Mia Corippo/Nickie Hughes (CUI) def. Karly Cantu/Eliana Johnson (VU) 2-0 (21-18, 21-17)
5. Kya Bock/Cambria Fernandez (CUI) def. Emilee Hall/Sydney Irwin (VU) 2-0 (21-11, 21-16)
Exhib: Maddy Clark/Jamie Sakasegawa (CUI) def. Karli Burk/Makenzie Mitchell (VU) 2-0 (21-16, 21-13)
Order to finish: 5, 4, 3*, 2, 1
 
Concordia 1, No. 12 Long Beach State 4
1. Mari Molina/Tyler Spriggs (LBSU) def. Vanessa Bernzen/Ellie Cary (CUI) 2-0 (21-12, 21-15)
2. Avery Keathley/Hailee Ryan (CUI) def. Nicci Reinking/Madison Smeathers (LBSU) 2-1 (16-21, 21-19, 17-15).
3. Katie Kennedy/Sydney Stevens (LBSU) def. Alexis Dirige/Shannon Evans (CUI) 2-0 (21-13, 21-16)
4. Emily Mattoon/Jillian Rodriguez (LBSU) def. Mia Corippo/Nickie Hughes (CUI) 2-0 (21-5, 21-18)
5. Hanna Farnsworth/Claire Newlander (LBSU) def. Kya Bock/Cambria Fernandez (CUI) 2-0 (21-16, 21-18)
Exhib: Savannah Lyons/Sophie Major (LBSU) def. Maddy Clark/Jamie Sakasegawa (CUI) 2-0 (21-11, 25-23)
Order to finish: 4, 5, 1*, 3, 2