FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Salisbury University women’s volleyball team lost to the third-seeded UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, 3-1, in the first semifinal of the 2026 Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday at Ron Rosner Arena at the University of Mary Washington. Salisbury University, the second seed, won the opening set before UC Santa Cruz took the final three by scores of 20-25, 25-22, 26-24 and 25-23.
The loss means Salisbury University will miss the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship Match for the first time since 2019. The Sea Gulls are scheduled to play either top-seeded Christopher Newport or fourth-seeded Mary Washington in the tournament’s third-place match Saturday at noon at Ron Rosner Arena.
Salisbury University Women’s Volleyball Team Takes First Set
Salisbury University fell behind 4-1 in the opening set before scoring five consecutive points. A tandem block from Amanda Meschi and Sophia Tapia gave the Sea Gulls a 6-4 lead, and Salisbury University later extended its advantage to 11-6.
UC Santa Cruz cut the deficit to 18-16, but Tapia answered with a kill and joined Kyra Douglass on a block to restore a 20-16 Salisbury University lead. Kiley McTaggart added a kill, and Meschi and Elizabeth Gordon combined for the set-clinching block in a 25-20 win.
UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs Win Three Straight Sets
Salisbury University opened the second set with the first four points and built an 11-7 advantage. UC Santa Cruz then used a 7-1 run to take a 14-12 lead, and the Banana Slugs held on after Salisbury University trimmed a 22-19 deficit to 23-22.
Olivia Phillips produced a kill before combining with Sydney Janowitz on a block that helped UC Santa Cruz close out the set, 25-22. The third set also featured several momentum swings, with Salisbury University moving ahead 21-16 before UC Santa Cruz answered with a 7-2 run to tie the score at 23.
After a Salisbury University service error gave the Sea Gulls set point, Riley Sawyer tied the score with a kill. An attack error followed by a Shiraz Benyoucef service ace gave the Banana Slugs a 26-24 victory.
UC Santa Cruz created separation in the fourth set with five consecutive points, including three straight aces from Benyoucef, to take a 16-8 lead. Salisbury University fought back with 11 of the next 15 points and pulled within 20-19 after Julie Altieri set up Gordon for a kill.
The Banana Slugs responded with four straight points and reached match point at 24-19 after an ace from Phillips. Salisbury University fought off four match points, including two aces from Altieri, but Janowitz and Khloe Pavia combined to block McTaggart and finish the match at 25-23.
Elizabeth Gordon, Sophia Tapia Lead Salisbury University
Elizabeth Gordon led Salisbury University with 11 kills, four block assists and a .435 hitting percentage. Sophia Tapia added nine kills while hitting .467, and her season-high nine blocks included five solo blocks; she also recorded three digs.
Kiley McTaggart contributed six kills, three blocks, two digs and one service ace. Amanda Meschi finished with five kills, seven digs and three blocks, while Julie Altieri recorded 17 assists and 11 digs for her 60th career double-double and 11th of the season.
Altieri also served two aces. Beitris Boyreau-Millar added 10 assists and four digs, while Sophia Blaufuss recorded 11 digs, five aces and four assists.
Match Statistics and Third-Place Match
UC Santa Cruz outhit Salisbury University .161 to .146 and held advantages of 56-40 in kills and 75-50 in digs. Salisbury University led 12-11 in aces and 14-13 in blocks, but the Banana Slugs advanced to the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship Match.
Salisbury University is scheduled to return to Ron Rosner Arena on Saturday, Nov. 14, for the C2C Tournament third-place match against either Christopher Newport or Mary Washington. The match is scheduled to begin at noon.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Salisbury University battled back throughout the semifinal, particularly in the fourth set after UC Santa Cruz built an eight-point lead. Gordon, Tapia and Altieri produced key performances, while the Sea Gulls also held advantages in aces and blocks.
UC Santa Cruz made the decisive plays in the final three sets, including late service and blocking plays that secured the 3-1 victory.
Source: Original report
