Mountain Lions Edge San Mateo 3-2
The De Anza College beach volleyball team delivered a clutch performance on its home courts, securing a 3-2 victory over visiting San Mateo in a tightly contested Coast Conference match.
After San Mateo took the first dual match, 4-1, De Anza was able to regroup to beat the Bulldogs – and beat the heat. Wednesday's temperatures in Cupertino reached 90 degrees and felt like triple-digits in the hot sand at "DA Beach."
With the afternoon match tied at 2-2, all eyes turned to the No. 5 pairs match, where the Mountain Lions showcased resilience and composure under pressure. The duo of sophomore Claire Sugrue and freshman Mimi Braceros rebounded after dropping a narrow first set, 23-21, to power past Aylssa Polanco and Addison Turner with decisive 21-13 and 15-11 wins in the second and third sets, clinching the team victory for De Anza.
"Super proud of our team for pushing through and fighting for everyone point," said De Anza head coach Dawnis Guevara.
"It was a tough battle that came down to the wire. Just a great team win on our home courts – the kind of win you need to build and carry momentum."
The Mountain Lions set the tone early, capturing the top two flights in straight sets.
At No. 1, Ayla Cakisic and McKenzie Bell controlled the match throughout, defeating Madison Williams and Brooklyn Gamez 21-16, 21-14.
The No. 2 pair of Ester Alper and Caitlin Khayatan followed with another key point, edging Kendall Lee and Shuna Hernandez-Elorza 21-19, 21-17 in a competitive contest.
San Mateo responded by taking the No. 3 and No. 4 matches to even the team score. Ava Duran and Zoe Gaffney outlasted Jocelyn Balderas and Annastasia Gardner in a three-set battle (19-21, 21-18, 15-9), while Synia Hunt and Adrianna Agresti secured a straight-set victory over Sophia Quach and Violeta Velasquez, 21-17, 21-17.
Despite the push from the Bulldogs, De Anza's depth and determination proved decisive in the final match of the day.
With the win, the Lions continue to build momentum and demonstrate their competitive edge in close contests, highlighting their ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
De Anza will look to carry the energy into the next conference match on March 27, when the Lions - now 4-2 at home - will host Monterey Peninsula and Hartnell.
With a 3-5 record in the Coast Conference, the Lions are behind Fresno (6-0), Monterey Peninsula (4-2), and Cabrillo (4-2). At 7-9 overall, De Anza is one victory away from posting the most wins in the program's short history (8 wins in 2024).