By Zoë Woodward – Spear Reporter | Junior Kaia Fanshier serving against Saint Mary’s. Photo by Zoë Woodward – Spear Photographer
Optimism was high at Spartan Beach, as San Jose State Beach Volleyball (6-6, 0-0 MW) were back in action on Friday following a competition in Hawaii last week. Whilst there, the Spartans would lose the first three matches but finish strong winning the last three games.
SJSU started the day off with a bang, putting on a dominant performance and sweeping College of Siskiyous (3-8, 1-1 GVC) to earn themselves a 5-0 victory in an exhibition game on its home sand.
Having started the day so well, the Spartans hoped that they would finally be able to change the narrative and come out on top, as they would take on Saint Mary’s (12-4, 2-0 WCC) for the third time this season in their second game of the day.
Despite their best efforts, they would once again come up short against the Gaels as they were swept 5-0.
“Quite a tough loss, to get out executed and out competed on your own sand,” SJSU head coach Gary Hodge said. “We did not fight nearly the way that we usually do. To come here and face playing like that in front of our home crowd is deeply disappointing.”
In an attempt to get one point on the board, partners junior Kaia Fanshier and senior Addison DeMarse did manage to force a third set to be played in their first match together.
Despite being behind after losing the first set 21-19, the pair were able to continue fighting, allowing themselves to come out on top with the same scoreline.
The third set showed the crowd just how difficult it was to separate the two teams. When the Spartans went ahead, the Gaels always found a way to level the score again. After a long hard-fought fight, the set would eventually be won 17-15 by the Gaels.
“I think after more experience together, we’ll really start to get a good hold of game preparation and the match itself,” Fanshier said. “We have seen Saint Mary’s a lot this season, so every time we play them again we always want redemption and because of that I think it adds a little bit more pressure onto us.”
Senior Kylee Moore and sophomore Sophia Torres would be the only pair to beat the Gaels even though it wouldn’t count towards the points. A third set wouldn’t be needed as they would win 21-19, 21-17.
“We need to celebrate the points we win as much as possible and leave the bad in the past,” Torres said.
The Spartans need to find a way to reset before their next game against Cabrillo College at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Spartan Beach.
