By Aikman Fang (@AikmanFang) – Spear Beat Reporter
No. 6 seed SJSU beach volleyball (11-9, 2-7 SLC) wrapped up their season after splitting day two of the 2023 Southland Conference Championships.
SJSU received its first loss in the double-elimination tournament on Friday when it was defeated 3-0 by the No. 3 seed Boise State (24-9, 4-2 SLC).
SJSU bounced back on Saturday to upset the No. 5 seed Southeastern Louisiana (8-23, 2-4 SLC) 3-1 in the second round. The Lady Lions edged out the Spartans 3-2 the last time they faced at the Southland Midseason Tournament.
Southeastern Louisiana had a 1-0 advantage after its No. 5 duo of senior Mabry Ward and junior Ysabella Lockwood defeated freshman Meredith Scott and Isabelle Sistek in straight sets 21-15, 21-13.
The Spartans then evened it up 1-1 when their No. 4 pair of freshmen Teila Allen and Blaire Fleming beat freshmen Harlee Tupper and Alexis Logarbo in straight sets 21-19, 23-21.
SJSU’s No. 2 pair of seniors Siena Brewster and Amethyst Harper also triumphed in straight sets over Southeastern Louisana’s freshmen duo of Carley Petty and Mia McKinney 21-19, 21-15.
The Spartans clinched the dual and won 3-1 when sophomore Tessa Rodgers and freshman Nayeli Tia defeated senior Eryn Wilks and sophomore Jackie McGee in three sets 13-21, 21-18, 15-7.
SJSU’s hopes of winning a conference championship ended prematurely when it fell 3-1 to the No. 2 seed Houston Christian in the next dual.
Allen and Fleming were the only Spartan duo to win their match against the Huskies after they defeated sophomore Abbey Reinard and junior Abbey Bufkin in straight sets 21-19, 21-13. Allen and Fleming won both of their matches on Saturday in straight sets.
Fleming and Tia were also honored as the No. 4 pair on the Southland All-Conference second team.
“I’m so proud of this team and what we accomplished this season,” said associate head coach Gary Hodge. “If you take a look where we were during the midseason (tournament) and where we are now, it’s night and day.”
SJSU beach volleyball finishes its first season under Hodge by going 11-9, one win shy of tying the program-record 12 wins it set last season.