A picturesque day in San Jose with a clear, high blue sky complemented the first day of beach volleyball at Spartan Beach, the new home of San José State University. After six seasons of playing "home" matches as far away as Monterey, the 2020 Spartans were truly home for the first time at the South Campus across from the Spartan Tennis Complex on 10th Street between Humboldt and Alma.
And, they were treated royally. There was an early afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Athletics Director Marie Tuite featuring University President Mary A. Papazian and senior Kiley Lingenfelter.
"This is an extraordinary next step for Spartan Athletics. We have made a commitment over these last several years with the support of so many, some who are here and others who aren't to continue to renovate and upgrade our athletics facilities for all of our student-athletes and all of our students," said President Papazian in front of a standing-room only crowd of more than 200.
"What this (Spartan Beach) really says is we are committed to excellence at San José State. We believe the athletics program is part of our core mission of education. Some of the best learning happens here between coaches and players. This is mentorship at its best. It's the same kind of experience when students are in labs with their professors. It's having those opportunities to develop and grow."
Now in her third season as a Spartan and a beach volleyball specialist after transferring from Fairfield University in Connecticut, Lingenfelter was the team's spokeswoman. The 2019 San José State University Dean's Scholar teamed with Latahevai Lousi for one of the Spartan wins in a 4-1 triumph over Oregon in the final match of opening day at Spartan Beach.
"The new beach courts have been and will continue to be such a blessing to the beach and indoor (volleyball) girls that come through this program. So we want to thank our donors, the athletics department and our coaches for making all of this happen," said Lingenfelter, who is from the landlocked city of Muncie, Indiana.
"… I love this team behind me," said Tuite. "I wish you could spend the kind of time I have the opportunity to spend with them. They are just, terrific, terrific young people."
And, they showed how terrific they are on Spartan Beach on a day when temperatures hovered near 70 degrees at its peak compared to 29 degrees in Muncie, Indiana. The Spartans as they opened 2020 with a clear vision in a 3-2 win over Ottawa University of Arizona. Coupled with the victory over Oregon after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, San José State started a season with a 2-0 win-loss record for the fourth consecutive year.
San José State 3, Ottawa 2
1. Kaitlynn Zdroik/Caitlin Bettenay (SJSU) def. Valerie Rodgers/Mikelle Taylor (OUAZ) 22-20, 21-13
2. Tabea Schwarz/Thaliana Grajeda (SJSU) def. Andrea Gonzalez/Viri Serrano (OUAZ) 21-18, 21-12
3. Katia Dizon/Abbey Willison (OUAZ) def. Sarah Smevog/Haylee Nelson (SJSU) 12-21, 21-13, 15-12
4. Ryann Thomison/Summer Vercruyssen (SJSU) def. Ashleigh Atsaros/Katelyn Viray (OUAZ) 18-21, 21-18, 15-12
5. Isabel Mason/Mariah Clausen (OUAZ) def. Latahevai Lousi/Kiley Lingenfelter (SJSU) 21-13, 18-21, 15-13
Exhib. Emily Morris/Andrea Edwards (OUAZ) def. Yazmin Pitpit/Kacy Hele (SJSU) 21-16, 21-19
Records: San José State 1-0
San José State 4, Oregon 1
1. Caitlin Bettenay/Kaitlynn Zdroik (SJSU) def. Carly Wallace/Madelyn Lafollette (ORE) 21-23, 21-11, 15-6
2. Thaliana Grajeda/Tabea Schwarz (SJSU) def. Jade Sadeiko/Bea Wetton (ORE) 21-18, 21-14
3. Ally Haden/Savannah Siegrist (ORE) def. Haylee Nelson/Sarah Smevog (SJSU) 21-16, 15-21, 15-11
4. Ryann Thomison/Summer Vercruyssen (SJSU) def. Zoe Almanza/Anastasia Lima (ORE) 17-21, 21-16, 15-13
5. Latahevai Lousi/Kiley Lingenfelter (SJSU) def. Elise Ferreira/Mia Lopez (ORE) 19-21, 23-21, 15-10
Exhib. Taumafa Tuinauvai/Kacy Hele (SJSU) def. Taylor Williams/Abby Hansen (ORE) 21-14, 21-17
Records: Oregon 1-1; San José State 2-0
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