IRVINE, Calif. - The Concordia University Irvine beach volleyball team opened up its season at home welcoming in the No. 9 ranked CAL Bears and No. 7 Loyola Marymount Lions.

The Eagles opened up their first match of the year going toe-to-toe with the Bears, but fell just short early Sunday. CUI fought hard and had a close matchup in the Eagles No. 4 pair (Mia Corippo / Alexis Dirige) as they battled back and forth with the Bears and were able to force a third set. Unfortunately the Green and Gold dropped this match 2-1.

The Eagles second match of the day was against No. 7 LMU.  CUI battled hard and kept LMU on alert in the majority of their matches.  Notably No. 5 pair Shannon Evans / Alex Omaszta were within two points in both sets, with the second set going all the way up to a high score of 31-29. The Lions came out strong and the Eagles were able to hang with them every step of the way. In seven of the ten total sets played, the Lions won by only three points or less.

Overall, this weekend was a great experience for the CUI beach volleyball team as they welcomed in two top ten teams and got an experience that not many other NCAA Division II programs would have the opportunity to play.

"I am really proud of our girls for competing and playing hard against two top ten teams," recapped CUI head coach Jenny Griffith. "We learned a lot about what we need to work on and where we need to get better. But my biggest take away is that we are capable of competing at the highest level."

Senior Mia Corippo also was encouraged of the team's performances against a pair of NCAA Division I schools.

"These match ups were such a great opportunity for our program as a whole," added Corippo. "Not only did we fight hard, we kept them on their toes, and don't think they were expecting that. I'm really proud of all of my teammates!"

The Eagles will travel up to Northridge, Calif. Friday, Mar. 12 for their next match up as they are set to take on the Matadors of Cal State Northridge.

No. 9 CAL 5, Concordia 0

No. 1 – Mima Mirkovic/Caroline Schafer (CAL) def. No. 1 – Ellie Cary/Vanessa Bernzen (CUI)—(21-15, 21-14)

No. 2 – Ainsley Radell/Jordan Polo (CAL) def. No. 2 – Hailee Ryan/Avery Keathley (CUI)—(21-12, 21-10)

No. 3 – Kate Bierly/Maya Gessner (CAL) def. No. 3 – Nickie Hughes/Sara Ostojic (CUI)—(21-14, 21-12)

No. 4 – Alexia Inman/Brooke Buchner (CAL) def. No. 4 – Mia Corippo/Alexis Dirige (CUI)—(21-17, 19-21, 15-7)

No. 5 – Maddie Micheletti/Ava Mann (CAL) def. No. 5 – Kya Bock/Marina Pilkington (CUI)—(21-14, 21-12)
 

No. 7 LMU 5, Concordia 0

No. 1 – Megan Rice/Iya Lindahl (LMU) def. No. 1 – Ellie Cary/Vanessa Bernzen (CUI)— (21-17, 21-17)

No. 2 – Reka Orsi Toth/Selina Marolf (LMU) def. No. 2 – Hailee Ryan/Avery Keathley (CUI)— (21-17, 21-10)

No. 3 – Jessie Prichard/Savannah Slattery (LMU) def. No. 3 – Mia Corippo/Alexis Dirige (CUI)— (21-8, 21-9)

No. 4 – Darby Dunn/Sydnie Herrmann (LMU) def. No. 4 – Nickie Hughes/Sara Ostojic (CUI)— (21-16, 21-18)

No. 5 – Cassie Chinn/Emma Doud (LMU) def. No. 5 – Shannon Evans/Alex Omaszta (CUI)— (21-19, 31-29)


For the full CUI beach volleyball schedule, CLICK HERE.

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