IRVINE, Calif. – It was a historic day for Concordia beach volleyball as the Eagles went undefeated at Irvine Valley College, facing three quality opponents. CUI defeated the host IVC, while beating a pair of Division I teams, marking the third and fourth DI victories in program history.
 
All duals went in favor of the Eagles 3-2, with the four's pair of Mia Corippo and Nickie Hughes and five's pair of Kya Bock and Cambria Fernandez going undefeated for the day.
 
Concordia started the day taking on Santa Clara for the team's first-ever meeting. The Bronco's claimed wins on courts one and two in straight sets, but the Eagles responded with three sweeps of their own on the bottom three courts.
 
Taking on its local rivals, Concordia rallied past Irvine Valley College in thrilling fashion. Corippo and Hughes easily handled their opponents while Avery Keathley and Hailee Ryan pushed their ways to a win at the two's. The final three games went down to the wire, all going into third sets. IVC claimed the win at the top flight but the three's pairing of Alexis Dirige and Shannon Evans and four's pulled away with 15-13 victories.
 
To round out the day, the Concordia claimed another nail-biting win over CSU Bakersfield to finish unblemished. The Roadrunners picked up an early 2-0 dual lead with wins on courts two and three. But the Eagles responded with a comeback. Corippo and Hughes edged out their opponents with straight set 21-19 victories to claim a team point. The top pair of Vanessa Bernzen and Ellie Cary won 15-10 in the third to secure the second point to tie the dual at 2-2. Going down to the wire, the five's of Bock and Fernandez clinched the dual with a dramatic 19-17 third set win.
 
Concordia is now off to its best start in CUI history now at 6-1 and looks to continue its on Friday, March 6 as the Eagles head back to Irvine Valley College for a pair of duals with the Lasers (10 a.m.) and Orange Coast College (11:30 a.m.). For the full beach volleyball schedule, click here.
 
Concordia 3, Santa Clara 2
1. Decker/Shaffer (SCU) def. Vanessa Bernzen/Ellie Cary (CUI) 2-0 (21-14, 21-17)
2. Reinert/Paumen (SCU) def. Avery Keathley/Hailee Ryan (CUI) 2-0 (21-16, 21-9)
3. Alexis Dirige/Shannon Evans (CUI) def. Anthony/Held (SCU) 2-0 (21-16, 21-13)
4. Mia Corippo/Nickie Hughes (CUI) def. Doud/Sangiacomo (SCU) 2-0 (21-15, 22-20)
5. Kya Bock/Cambria Fernandez (CUI) 2-0 def. Davitt/Manol (SCU) (21-15, 21-14)
 
Concordia 3, Irvine Valley 2
1. Griego/Kruse (IVC) def. Vanessa Bernzen/Ellie Cary (CUI) 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-7)
2. Avery Keathley/Hailee Ryan (CUI) def. Nolan/Thomas (IVC) 2-0 (21-19, 21-18)
3. Gendale/Unke (IVC) def. Alexis Dirige/Shannon Evans (CUI) 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 15-13)
4. Mia Corippo/Nickie Hughes (CUI) def. Austin/Langle (IVC) 2-0 (21-12, 21-14)
5. Kya Bock/Cambria Fernandez (CUI) def. Entesari/Hafey (IVC) 2-1 (12-21, 21-19, 15-13)
 
Concordia 3, CSU Bakersfield 2
1. Vanessa Bernzen/Ellie Cary (CUI) def. Solberg/Vukobrat (CSUB) 2-1 (21-19, 15-21, 15-10)
2. Hansen/Makonova (CSUB) def. Avery Keathley/Hailee Ryan (CUI) 2-0 (21-18, 25-23)
3. Boiseau/Bonifacio (CSUB) def. Alexis Dirige/Shannon Evans (CUI) 2-0 (21-10, 21-19)
4. Mia Corippo/Nickie Hughes (CUI) def. Manzanares/McCluskey (CSUB) 2-0 (21-19, 21-19)
5. Kya Bock/Cambria Fernandez (CUI) 2-1 def. Elisaia/Ortiz (CSUB) (20-22, 21-18, 19-17)