By Brianna Huffmaster (@bhuffmaster2024) – Spear Reporter
Team huddle during practice to prepare for the upcoming season. | Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics
San Jose State women’s beach volleyball played its first games of the season on Friday in Berkeley, Calif.
The first game was a 5-0 win against American River in an exhibition match.
Each game was won in two sets. The five pairs that played against American River were:
- Teila Allen and Cheyenne Rice
- Jaida Ward and Jada Hall
- Shirley Morrison and Anna Salmon
- Siena Brewster and Tessa Rogers
- Alexandra Dale and Jaena Bell.
Dale and Bell only allowed five points in their first set, while Morrison and Salmon allowed six points.
In the second sets, the Ward and Hall and Brewster and Rogers duos kept their American River opponents to seven points.
The second game against No. 8 California was the opposite result, falling 0-5.
Four out of the five pairs remained the same versus California. Meredith Scott was Dale’s partner in place of Bell.
The closest matchup pairing was Ward and Hall, losing both sets 21-19 and 21-17.
“I’m very proud of how we competed, how our players stepped up to that challenge being away and being at such a high-level opponent,” SJSU head coach Gary Hodge said. “Every pair competed hard, everybody was right there with their opponent, we really pushed [No. 8 California].”
SJSU women’s beach volleyball looks to bounce back at the Battle of the Bay tournament hosted by Stanford on March 1-2.