The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Cal State Bakersfield
UAB Splits Pair to Close FSU Unconquered Invitational
2/21/2026 6:48:00β―PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.Β - The UABΒ beachΒ volleyball teamΒ wrapped up play at the FSU Unconquered Invitational on Saturday,Β splitting aΒ pair ofΒ matches. The BlazersΒ defeatedΒ Cal State Bakersfield (1-4) andΒ fellΒ toΒ North Alabama (3-2), moving toΒ 2-3 after theΒ openingΒ weekend of the season.Β Β
In the morning session, UABΒ earnedΒ a 3-2Β victory overΒ Cal State Bakersfield, using strongΒ performancesΒ on Courts 1, 2 and 5 to secure the win. TheΒ Court 1Β duo of Jasmine Haas and Olivia StantΒ continued their strong play, defeating ErikaΒ MarkentinΒ and Olivia Silacci-Jensen 2-1.Β With the victory, HaasΒ moved into a tie for the program record for individual winsΒ withΒ 70.Β Isabel Day and Pien GrootersΒ delivered a key resultΒ on Court 2,Β defeatingΒ Sophia Anderson and Olivia Ostler 2-0. TheΒ BlazersΒ clinchedΒ theΒ matchΒ on Court 5Β asΒ Olivia ChychrunΒ and Ava Grace Knott sweptΒ Vianna Garcia andΒ AensleyΒ Matautia.Β Β Β
In their final match of the tournament, the Blazers dropped a tightly contested 3-2 decisionΒ toΒ North Alabama. UAB earned a win on Court 3 as Lauren Cairo and Claudia Stockard defeated HaileyΒ BeneszΒ and Lucy Wedding 2-0.Β ChychrunΒ and Knott added another victory on Court 5, defeating Emma White and Mabrey Whitehead 2-0.Β
With the win earlier in the day,Β ChychrunΒ recorded her 50th career victory, becoming the eighth player in program history to reach the milestone. The 2026 roster now features three players with at least 50 career wins: Jasmine Haas (70), Olivia Stant (56)Β andΒ ChychrunΒ (50).Β
"We knew coming intoΒ openingΒ weekend that it was going to be a battle.Β I'm really proud of the way we set the tone against FSU, especially on courts 1 and 2, pushing both matches to a third set.Β That kind of fight says a lot about this group," head coach Delaney Rose said. "With each dual, we learned more about who we are and whatΒ we'reΒ capable of as a team. We know that we have more to give, soΒ we'reΒ eager to get back to work this week in practice."Β
UAB returns to action next weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the Tiger Beach Classic. The Blazers open the tournament against Washington on Friday at 9:15 a.m.Β
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS: Stay connected with UAB Beach Volleyball by following the Blazers at @UAB_BVB on Instagram and X.
