LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Concordia beach volleyball started at the Battle of LA tournamentat USC on Friday. The Golden Eagles went split on the day losing to USC and beating Pepperdine for the first time.
 

USC 5, CUI 0
  
The Golden Eagles start the tournament playing their first ranked team of the season with host team No. 3 USC. CUI tried rallying with the Trojans making some adjustments but was unable to come out with a win.
 
In the fourth slot Reinking and Giusta were the only pair to take USC to three sets. They dropped the first set and then battled it out in the second set winning by just two points to force a third. The third set was another tough set as the Golden Eagles continued to rally with the Trojans but were able to secure a win with a close 15-12 score.
 
 
1. Madison White and Zoey Henson (USC) def. Kelissa Lemoine and Sara Ostojic (CUI) 21-17, 21-17
2. Ashley Pater and Kennedy Coakley (USC) def. Ashley Rossi and Korah Nordin (CUI) 21-8, 21-11
3. Mabyn Thomas and Madison Goellner (USC) def. Olivia Medina and Eva Prewitt (CUI) 21-12, 21-15
4. Delaney Karl and Kaileigh Truslow (USC) def. Gabrielle Reinking and Kelia Giusta (CUI) 21-16, 22-24, 15-12
5. Calinda Kok and Ella Larkin (USC) def. Samantha Campion and Lexi Godbey (CUI) 21-17, 21-12
 
 
CUI 4, PEPPERDINE 1
 
The second meeting of the day against Pepperdine was a battle between the two as three of the five matches went to three sets. The Golden Eagles picked up their first ever win over Pepperdine in program history.
 
Pairs two and four secured the first two wins over the Pepperdine in just two sets. They were no easy feats but CUI was able to snag the win. The first slot with Ostojic and Lemoine went the distance going three sets but the Waves were able to win by just two points over CUI earning their first point.
 
Campion and Godbey secured the first win for the Green and Gold of the tournament. The duo was in the fifth slot and won the first set comfortably. Pepperdine answered back winning the second set and pushed CUI to a third. The two duos went back and forth in the third with the Golden Eagles ultimately coming up with a win by a close two points.
 
In the third slot Reinking and Giusta helped CUI with the forth win for Concordia in another three set contest. After losing the first set the Golden Eagles made some serious adjustments that worked to their advantage to win the next two.
 
1 Kate Clermont and McKenna Thomas (PEP) def. Kelissa Lemoine and Sara Ostojic (CUI) 21-17, 19-21, 17-15
2. Ashley Rossi and Korah Nordin (CUI) def. Madison Oriskovich and Gabriella Perez (PEP) 21-19, 21-18
3.Gabrielle Reinking and Kelia Giusta (CUI) def. Emma Eden and Ella Foti (PEP) 10-21, 21-18, 16-14
4. Olivia Medina and Eva Prewitt (CUI) def. Emma Bubelis and Marley Johnson (PEP) 21-18, 21-19
5. Samantha Campion and Lexi Godbey (CUI) def. Emi Erickson and Deanie Woodruff (PEP) 21-16, 18-21, 18-16
6. Nicole Miller and Jordan Vander Veen (CUI) def. Bella Avelar/Kenzi McSpadden (PEP); 22-20, 21-17
 
The Golden Eagles will finish the Battle of LA Tournament at LMU on Saturday Mar. 1. The Golden Eagles will play against host team No. 2 LMU at 10 a.m. and No. 6 Cal Poly.
 
 
Click here to see the full CUI beach volleyball schedule.