LONG BEACH – Cal's No. 1 pair of senior Sarah Cole and freshman Mia Merino won both matches Friday as the No. 19 Cal beach volleyball team split a pair of duals at the Long Beach Tournament.

Cole and Merino defeated Jenelle Hudson and Zoi Konstantopoulou of No. 6 Long Beach State, but the 49ers defeated the Bears 4-1. Cal turned around and swept No. 20 Loyola Marymount 5-0 – the second time the Bears have beaten the Lions this season and Cal's fourth victory this season over a ranked opponent.

Cole and Merino led the charge against Loyola Marymount with a 21-17, 19-21, 15-11 win over the Lions' No. 1 pair of Avery Bush and Rachelle Suaava. The Bears used new pairs at Nos. 4 and 5 on Friday, as sophomore Katie Regalia and freshman Rachel Wilson played together for the first time and beat Loyola's Sascha Dominique and Tatiana Schlange, 21-15, 21-12. F

Cal freshman Kaity Uythoven made her college debut, teaming with sophomore Teya Neff and defeating the Lions' Sara Kovac and Kristen Castellanos, 21-17, 21-13.

Friday's action completed a three-match road trip for the Bears, all against ranked opponents.

The Bears (8-6) resume play on April 2 at the Monterey Tournament against San Jose State and Sacramento State.

 

No. 6 Long Beach State 4, No. 19 Cal 1

No. 1: Sarah Cole-Mia Merino (Cal) def. Jenelle Hudson-Zoi Konstantopoulou, 26-24, 21-18

No. 2: Rachel Nieto-Nele Barber (LB) def. Kory Lamet-Bryce Bark, 21-14, 21-18

No. 3: Sammee Thomas-Kobi Pekich (LB) def. Grace Campbell-Olivia Rodberg, 21-13, 21-15

No. 4: Mykah Wilson-Megan Kruidof (LB) def. Katie Regalia-Rachel Wilson, 20-22, 21-11, 15-7

No. 5: Ariana Garner-Peyton Grahovac (LB) def. Teya Neff-Kaity Uythoven 16-21, 21-19, 15-8

 

No. 19 Cal 5, No. 20 Loyola Marymount 0

No. 1: Sarah Cole-Mia Merino (Cal) def. Avery Bush-Rachelle Suaava, 21-17, 19-21, 15-11

No. 2: Kory Lamet-Bryce Bark (Cal) def. Jamie Lea-Lindsay Carr, 21-13, 21-15

No. 3: Grace Campbell-Olivia Rodberg (Cal) def. Veronica Nederend-Nicky Kevorken, 21-16, 21-12

No. 4: Katie Regalia-Rachel Wilson (Cal) def. Sascha Dominique-Tatiana Schlange, 21-15, 21-12

No. 5: Teya Neff-Kaity Uythoven (Cal) def. Sara Kovac-Kristen Castellanos, 21-17, 21-13