Sand Volleyball
    USC Women's Sand Volleyball Wins At Long Beach State
    Women of Troy post 4-1 victory.
    Geena Urango (l) and Sara Shaw.
    Geena Urango (l) and Sara Shaw.

    March 28, 2012

    The USC women's sand volleyball team won four of its five matches, including a tight 3-set victory by the No. 1 pairs team of Sara Shaw-Geena Urango, to defeat Long Beach State on the 49ers' home courts on Wednesday (March 28) afternoon.

    The Women of Troy improved to 4-1 in the inaugural year of the NCAA sport, while Long Beach State dropped to 2-2.

    Shaw-Urango battled back to beat the 49ers' top team of Caitlin Ledoux-Tara Roenicke, 19-21, 22-20, 15-13.

    The Trojan team of Kirby Burnham-Kelly Irvin, which moved up to the No. 2 pairs spot after playing at No. 3 earlier in the season, gave USC its match-clinching victory by defeating Chelsea Cabrajac-Haleigh Hampton, 21-16, 21-15.

    Troy's other victories came from Katie Fuller-Natalie Hagglund, who moved down to the No. 3 position, over Lauren Minkel-Jocelyn Neely, 21-14, 23-21, and from Kendall Bateman-Sam Hirschmann at No. 4 over Libby Fontanilla-Alma Serna, 23-21, 23-21.

    USC next hosts Loyola Marymount this Saturday (March 31) at 9 a.m. at Santa Monica's Annenberg Community Beach House in its final home match of 2012. There will be a team dual match followed by bracket play to crown a pairs champion.

    USC 4, Long Beach State 1

    #5: Tyler Jackson/Janisa Johnson (LBSU) def. Kati Duddridge/Megan Thornberry 21-8, 21-10

    #4: Kendall Bateman/Sam Hirschmann (USC) def. Libby Fontanilla/Alma Serna (LBSU) 23-21, 23-21

    #3: Katie Fuller/Natalie Hagglund (USC) def. Lauren Minkel/Jocelyn Neely (LBSU) 21-14, 23-21

    #2: Kirby Burnham/Kelly Irvin (USC) def. Chelsea Cabrajac/Haleigh Hampton (LBSU) 21-16, 21-15

    #1: Sarah Shaw/Geena Urango (USC) def. Caitlin Ledoux/Tara Roenicke (LBSU) 19-21, 22-20, 15-13

    Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1