Broncos off to Hot Start at Southland Conference Championship

Friday, April 21

Corpus Christi, Texas

9 a.m. MT

Boise State

San Jose State

Broncos off to Hot Start at Southland Conference Championship

4/21/2023 4:54:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Boise State advanced to the winners' bracket final after the first day of action at the Southland Conference Beach Volleyball Championship, Friday. The Broncos (24-8) finished 2-0 on the day, defeating San Jose State, 3-0, and Houston Christian, 3-1, marking the first postseason wins in program history.

Kaylee Mejia and Elli Wolthuis got the squad on the board first against the Spartans (9-8), winning in straight sets on the No. 4 court. After dropping the first set on court No. 5, Joey Benson and Aris Vetter came back to win 17-21, 21-14, 18-16 in a thrilling match to give Boise State a 2-0 lead. Rorianna Chartier and Sierra Land clinched the victory for the team, winning 21-12, 21-15 on the top court.

The Broncos and the Huskies (16-17) split on the No. 4 and No. 5 courts, setting up an early 1-1 score. Chartier and Land picked up a straight-set victory at the top position to give Boise State a 2-1 advantage and Emilia Guerra-Acuña and Lily Patock clinched the dual for the Broncos on the No. 3 court, winning 21-19, 21-13.

Notables

- Boise State earned its first postseason wins in program history. The program joined the Southland Conference in June 2022.
- Joey Benson notched two wins on the day to reach 22 wins on the season, setting the program-record for most individual wins in a single season.
- Rorianna Chartier became the third Bronco to reach 50 career wins on the day, joining Kaylee Mejia (53) and Benson (52) as the only players to do so in program history. Chartier finished the day with 51 career victories.
- Sierra Land reached 14 wins on the season at the No. 1 position, breaking the program-record for most individual wins at the top position in a single season.
- Lily Patock broke the program-record for most individual wins at the No. 3 position in a season, recording her 15th victory.

Quotables

"I'm so proud of our team. We came into today focused and ready to go. The dual against Houston Christian could have gone either way. We always have a great matchup with them. We knew it was going to be a battle. We came in fighting for every point." – head coach Allison Voigt

"Our team did a really great job handling the nerves. You could tell they were there, but we battled back when we felt that pressure. We were aggressive when we needed to be." - Voigt

"I'm looking forward to what's going to happen tomorrow. We have to play consistently. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is hosting this tournament so they're going to have a big advantage. If we come in with a little fire and play consistent on our side, I think we can do well. It's going to be a battle again." - Voigt

What's Next

Boise State will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the winners' bracket final at 9 a.m. MT on Saturday. The winner will advance to the championship game while the loser will drop to the consolation bracket final. Both games are scheduled for Sunday.

Results

No. 3 Boise State def. No. 6 San Jose State (3-0)
1.) Sierra Land and Rorianna Chartier (BOI) def. Cheyenne Rice and Jaida Ward (SJSU) 21-12, 21-15
2.) Ava Anderson and Sharli O'Neil (BOI) vs. Siena Brewster and Amethyst Harper (SJSU) 15-21, 5-12 (unfinished)
3.) Emilia Guerra-Acuña and Lily Patock (BOI) vs. Tessa Rogers and Nayeli Tia (SJSU) 21-16, 19-11 (unfinished)
4.) Kaylee Mejia and Elli Wolthuis (BOI) def. Teila Allen and Blaire Fleming (SJSU) 21-16, 21-19
5.) Joey Benson and Aris Vetter (BOI) def. Meredith Scott and Isabelle Sistek (SJSU) 17-21, 21-13, 18-16

No. 3 Boise State def. No. 2 Houston (3-1)
1.) Sierra Land and Rorianna Chartier (BOI) def. Maddie Butters and Alison Stanfill (HCU) 21-15, 22-20
2.) Ava Anderson and Sharli O'Neil (BOI) vs. Lindsay Harris and Kristen Kleymeyer (HCU) 20-22, 17-20 (unfinished)
3.) Emilia Guerra-Acuña and Lily Patock (BOI) def. Mary Alper and Paige Palmer (HCU) 21-19, 21-13
4.) Abbey Bufkin and Abbey Reinard (HCU) def. Kaylee Mejia and Elli Wolthuis (BOI) 24-22, 21-17
5.) Joey Benson and Aris Vetter (BOI) def. Gabi Axelrod and Shelby O'Neal (HCU) 21-17, 21-14