COD Beach Volleyball Sweeps Home Opener at Desert Tri

The College of the Desert beach volleyball team gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about in its 2026 home opener, earning two team victories at the Desert Tri, Vol. 1 to move back to .500 on the season.

The Roadrunners (3–3) opened the day with a 5–0 sweep of Fullerton (0–2), then closed the event with a thrilling 3–2 win over San Diego Miramar (2–4) in the day's marquee dual.

Fast Start Against Fullerton

COD set the tone early against an understaffed Fullerton squad that traveled with only three pairs, resulting in two walkover points for the Roadrunners. Still, Desert made a statement in the matches that were played.

At No. 1, sophomore Clairie Thomas (La Quinta HS) and freshman Juliette Rothe (Palm Desert Xavier College Prep) were in full control, winning 21–11, 21–7.

The most eye-catching performance came at No. 2, where sophomore Jacqueline Leon (La Quinta HS) and freshman Sophia Kalepp (Palm Desert HS) delivered a dominant 21–9, 21–0 victory. The 21–0 set — a true shutout — is a rare feat in beach volleyball, where even small miscues typically give opponents points. It's the sand equivalent of a perfect game on the mound.

At No. 3, freshmen Sara Hanley (Palm Desert Xavier College Prep) and Nadia Malone (La Quinta HS) rolled to a 21–4, 21–8 win. The No. 4 pair of Leslie Delgado (Coachella Valley HS) and Amber Kardol (Palm Desert HS) and the No. 5 team of Isabella Rosales (Shadow Hills HS) and Mia Castro (Palm Desert Xavier College Prep) each earned walkover victories to complete the sweep.

With the win, COD improved to 4–0 all-time against Fullerton and has still never dropped a set to the Hornets.

Roadrunners Edge Miramar in Thriller

The final dual of the day lived up to its billing, as COD and San Diego Miramar battled down to the final courts before the Roadrunners secured a 3–2 victory.

Thomas and Rothe once again set the standard at No. 1, earning a straight-set win, 21–11, 21–16. Delgado and Kardol matched that effort at No. 4 with a composed 21–16, 21–16 victory.

The clinching point came at No. 2, where Leon and Kalepp battled through a three-set showdown. After outlasting Miramar 22–20 in a marathon first set, the COD duo dropped the second 21–17 before regrouping for a decisive 15–9 win in the third.

Miramar claimed points at No. 3 and No. 5, but Desert's depth proved the difference. With the win, COD evened its all-time series with the Jets at 2–2 and has now won the last two meetings.

Up Next

The Roadrunners hit the road Friday, Feb. 6 for the Eagles Invite in Menifee, where they'll face Mt. San Jacinto and NAIA program La Sierra. COD returns home on Friday the 13th to host Riverside City College and Glendale in another desert tri-dual.

College of the Desert 5 at Fullerton 0

#1: Clairie Thomas / Juliette Rothe (COD) def. Lucy Kowalsky / Klaudia Bustillo (FULL) 21-11, 21-7
#2: Jacqueline Leon / Sophia Kalepp (COD) def. Addison Ortega / Jaidyn Preciado (FULL) 21-9, 21-0
#3: Sara Hanley / Nadia Malone (COD) def. Valerie Rodriguez / Jozette Mina (FULL) 21-4, 21-8
#4: Leslie Delgado / Amber Kardol (COD) wins in a walkover
#5: Isabella Rosales / Mia Castro (COD) wins in a walkover

College of the Desert 3 vs. San Diego Miramar 2

#1: Clairie Thomas / Juliette Rothe (COD) def. Madelyn Wutzke / Makana Kowalski (MIRA) 21-11, 21-16
#2: Jacqueline Leon / Sophia Kalepp (COD) def. Niloofar Jorbozeh / Sanaa Martin (MIRA) 22-20, 17-21, 15-9
#3: Hope Hess / Michelle Lara (MIRA) def. Sara Hanley / Nadia Malone (COD) 21-17, 21-11
#4: Leslie Delgado / Amber Kardol (COD) def. Mehelani Cablayan / Angelina Alvarado (MIRA) 21-16, 21-16
#5: Logan Mendez / Elin Medina (MIRA) def. Isabella Rosales / Mia Castro (COD) 20-22, 21-19, 15-10

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Darbie Catalfamo Photography.