Northridge, Calif.  – The Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles opened the 2026 campaign in dominant fashion, earning their first win of the season with a 3-2 dual victory over CSUN on Friday.

CUI set the tone early and relied on clutch performances up and down the lineup to secure the 1-0 overall record and the first tally in the win column for the green and gold.

CSUN claimed the opening point at the No. 5 position, the Golden Eagles responded with poise and depth across the middle courts to seize control of the dual.

At No. 4, Jordan Vander Veen and Rosie Cline battled through a tightly contested matchup to even the score. The pair took the first set 21-15 before dropping a narrow 22-20 second set. In the decisive third, the Golden Eagles duo held strong, closing out a 15-13 win to put CUI on the board. The match was the second to finish in the dual, shifting momentum toward the green and gold.

Gabby Reinking and Lexi Godbey gave Concordia its first lead of the afternoon at the No. 2 position. After edging out a 21-19 opening set, the CUI pair dropped the second 21-15. Refusing to back down, they regrouped in the third and secured a 15-12 victory to make it 2-1 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

The clinching point came at the No. 3 spot, where Kelia Giusta and Ashley Rossi delivered in dramatic fashion. After falling 21-14 in the first set, the duo responded with a commanding 21-15 second-set win. In a back-and-forth third set, Giusta and Rossi stayed composed down the stretch to earn a thrilling 16-14 victory, sealing the dual win for CUI.

CSUN closed out the final match at No. 1 in straight sets, but the result had already been decided as the Golden Eagles celebrated their first victory of the season.

Teagan Algarra and Emma Hugeback defeated CSUN's Natalia Brandlin and Natalie Gilbert in straight sets, 21-12, 22-20, adding to an impressive day of competition for the green and gold at the No. 6 pair in exhibition play.