Aikman Fang (@AikmanFang) – Spear Beat Reporter
SJSU beach volleyball (9-6, 1-5 SLC) defeated the University of San Francisco (1-17) 3-2 after getting swept 5-0 by No. 10 Stanford (13-6, 2-1 PAC-12) in a doubleheader on Monday at the Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium.
Seniors Siena Brewster and Amethyst Harper led the Spartans to their first match win of the day after defeating the Dons’ duo of freshman Branson Lennon and graduate Claire Crijns in straight sets 21-12, 21-16.
USF bounced back in the next match as freshman Jolie Gutierrez and graduate Anna Petrova defeated SJSU’s pair of freshmen Blaire Fleming and Teila Allen in straight sets 21-19, 21-13.
Junior Jaida Ward and senior Cheyenne Rice then gave the Spartans a 2-1 advantage after defeating the Dons’ freshman Mckenna Towne and sophomore Letizia Aquilino in straight sets 26-24, 21-16.
Freshmen Anna Salmon and Meredith Scott clinched the dual for SJSU after defeating USF’s pair of sophomore Sophia Solomon and graduate Isadora Nicolai in a nail-biting three sets 21-17, 18-21, 17-15. In addition to winning the dual for the Spartans, this was the first win of Salmon’s career.
“I honestly feel like I owe everything to my partner,” said Salmon. “I’m obviously new to this collegiate D1 beach volleyball and I think her energy and positivity really helped me during the match.”
“USF, another team better than their record and challenged us, really made us work for every single point,” said associate head coach Gary Hodge. “We are very fortunate to get out of here with a win.”
SJSU Beach Volleyball will face Saint Mary’s and Sacramento State next in a doubleheader on Thursday, April 13 in Moraga, Calif at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. respectively.