HONOLULU—The San José State Spartans beach volleyball team faced a challenging day at the Heineken Queen’s Cup in Honolulu on Friday, falling to both Saint Mary’s College (4-1) and Pepperdine University (5-0). Despite the losses, the Spartans showed resilience, with Sabrina Moore and Sophia Torres securing a crucial win against the Gaels. The team now looks ahead to Saturday’s matches against No. 12 Hawaii and Chaminade, continuing their competition at Queen’s Beach.
The Spartans entered the tournament with a 3-3 record, hoping to build momentum against a competitive field. Friday’s matches presented a tough test, with Saint Mary’s proving a formidable opponent in the morning session and Pepperdine showcasing their strength in the afternoon. The Queen’s Cup is a significant event in collegiate beach volleyball, drawing teams from across the country to compete in the Hawaiian sunshine.
The match against Saint Mary’s saw Moore and Torres emerge victorious in the fifth pairing, winning in straight sets 21-16, 21-9. Still, the Gaels secured wins in the other four matches, ultimately taking the dual 4-1. Rio Thomas and Randi Reeves battled hard, winning the first set 21-15 before falling 21-14 and 15-9. The Spartans’ overall record now stands at 3-4.
The afternoon brought a tougher challenge against Pepperdine, resulting in a 5-0 defeat for San José State. Moore and Torres once again demonstrated their competitiveness, taking a set from their Pepperdine opponents (21-16) before ultimately losing a close match 22-20, 16-14. Despite the close contests, Pepperdine proved too strong, securing victories across all five pairings.
Spartans Face Tough Competition at Queen’s Cup
The Spartans’ performance on Friday highlighted both their strengths and areas for improvement. The pairing of Moore and Torres continues to be a bright spot for the team, consistently delivering wins. However, the team will need to find more consistency across all pairings to compete with top programs like Pepperdine. The Queen’s Cup provides a valuable opportunity for the Spartans to test themselves against some of the best teams in the nation.
The match against Saint Mary’s saw the Gaels take an early lead, with Nya Crump and Angelina Bour defeating Mia Scheepens and Isabella Martinez 21-19, 21-16. Hannah Couch and Genevieve Bane then secured a win over Thomas and Reeves 15-21, 21-14, 15-9. Bella Reyes and Clarissa Klein added another point for Saint Mary’s, defeating Kaia Fanshier and Grace Baker 21-16, 21-18. Alisia Silverthorn and Annah Legaspi clinched the victory for the Gaels, winning against Kylee Moore and Anna Salmon 21-17, 21-11.
Pepperdine Dominates Afternoon Match
Against Pepperdine, the Spartans struggled to find their rhythm. Emma Eden and Michaela Cyrani defeated Scheepens and Martinez 21-13, 21-12, setting the tone for the match. Maddy Snow and Gabriella Perez then secured a win over Thomas and Reeves 21-18, 22-20. Alice Jagielska and Sonia Mancuso added another point for Pepperdine, defeating Fanshier and Baker 12-21, 21-15, 15-11. Ginevra Merlini and Emi Erickson continued Pepperdine’s dominance, winning against Moore and Salmon 21-18, 21-13. Finally, Emma Bubelis and Deanie Woodruff completed the sweep, defeating Moore and Torres 16-21, 22-20, 16-14.
Looking Ahead to Saturday’s Matches
The Spartans will continue play at the Heineken Queen’s Cup on Friday with duals against No. 12 Hawaii at 2:15 p.m. PT and Chaminade at 4:45 p.m. PT. These matches will provide another opportunity for the team to test their skills and gain valuable experience. Facing a nationally ranked program like Hawaii will be a significant challenge, but the Spartans are determined to compete at their best. The team will need to regroup and focus on executing their game plan to achieve success.
Coach Hodge shared his thoughts after the first day of competition in Hawaii via Twitter, offering encouragement and analysis of the team’s performance.
Coach Hodge after the first day of competition in Hawaii. #AllSpartans pic.twitter.com/cknTTxtpW3
— SJSU VOLLEYBALL (@SanJoseStateVB) March 6, 2026
Fans can follow the Spartans’ progress throughout the Heineken Queen’s Cup on the San José State Athletics website for live updates, scores, and schedules. The team’s performance at this tournament will be crucial as they continue their season and strive for success in collegiate beach volleyball.
The Spartans will aim to bounce back on Saturday, leveraging the experience gained from Friday’s matches. The competition at the Heineken Queen’s Cup is fierce, but the team remains focused on improving and competing at their highest level. The matches against Hawaii and Chaminade will provide valuable opportunities to assess their progress and prepare for future challenges.
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