Golden Eagles Face Tough Competition in LA
The Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles faced a challenging day at Merle Norman Stadium, playing against highly-ranked teams Cal Poly and USC in the ongoing Battle of LA.
Against Cal Poly
In their first match, the Golden Eagles took on No. 3 Cal Poly. It was a tough battle, ending in a 5-0 loss for Concordia. Olivia Medina and Aliyah Moore led the charge at the top position, pushing their opponents, Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter, to a close second set but ultimately lost 21-14, 21-18.
Gabby Reinking and Lexi Godbey played at No. 2 but fell 21-13, 21-11. Kelia Giusta and Ashley Rossi struggled at No. 3, with a score of 21-11, 21-15. Rosie Cline and Jordan Vander Veen represented Concordia at No. 4, finishing with a score of 21-16, 21-11. Lastly, Madi Kelly and McKenzie Perrault at No. 5 lost 21-12, 21-12, rounding off the match.
Against USC
Later, the Eagles faced No. 4 USC. This time, the Trojans quickly dominated, winning the doubles point with wins on courts two, four, and five. Medina and Moore again played at the top slot but lost to Zoey Henson and Sarah Wood, 21-9, 21-15.
Reinking and Godbey had a close call at No. 2, narrowly losing 22-20 in the first set before losing the second 21-10. At the No. 3 position, Giusta and Rossi fell 21-15, 21-15, while Cline and Vander Veen faced a similar fate with the same score. Kelly and Jayda Tupea wrapped up the day with a loss of 21-7, 21-14 against a tough Trojan pair.
Looking Ahead
The Golden Eagles will head to Manoa, Hawaii, for the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Warrior Classic, beginning with a match against the University of Hawai’i at Manoa on Thursday.
What’s Next?
This rigorous competition is not just a measure of skill but also resilience. The team aims to learn from these matches and improve as they move forward. As head coach celebrates their spirit, players are encouraged to reflect on each game and build upon their experiences.
For more details about the CUI beach volleyball schedule, check out the CUI athletics page.
