Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Saddleback College Athletics

Cats provide another beach cleanup

Saddleback has won six straight in conference play

Action Photograph The right side of the graphic shows two female beach volleyball players from Saddleback College in action on a sand court. Players: Both athletes are wearing maroon and gold jerseys and sunglasses. Action: The player on the left is in a low
Box Score Box Score
March 20, 2026

The Saddleback beach volleyball team won two matches over Irvine Valley College and Riverside City College on Friday at Irvine Valley.  The Bobcats have now won six straight Orange Empire Conference matches.

Saddleback, IVC and RCC battled in toasty temperatures on Friday as the sand courts at IVC reached the mid 90's.   The Bobcats had a grueling match against Irvine Valley to start when every match went five sets, and the Bobcats won four of them.  The No. 1 pairs team of Meg Gardner and Keelyn Lopez (pictured) had a marathon match, winning 19-21, 22-20, 15-10. 

Interestingly, every one of the five matches started with the eventual losing team winning the opening set before the eventual winner captured the final two sets.  Cori Willcoxson and Kayla Ostovar outlasted their opponents at the 2's (20-22, 21-17, 15-7).  Nicole Hylton and Hannah Ray did the same at the 3's (20-22, 21-17, 15-10) while Eva Gardner and Kyra Bouldin completed the comeback at the 4's (15-21, 21-11, 15-10). 

The second match came right on the heels of the first, so Saddleback was stuck in a tough spot of having to play back-to-back matches in punishing heat.  The Bobcats dug deep and made quick work of the Tigers, winning the first four matches in straight sets to claim the sweep.

Saddleback is now 6-5 overall and 6-1 in Orange Empire Conference play through the opening round of play.  The Bobcats will host Santa Ana College and Golden West College next Friday at Irvine Valley to open the second round.