PHOENIX, Ariz.—After splitting two matches at their tri-match on Thursday, the Wildcats began play at the Grand Canyon Invitational hosted by no. 5 GCU. The Wildcats went 1-3 in the tournament, earning a win over San Diego City College before falling to GCU and no. 6 Cal Poly. ACU then got their first taste of conference competition when they faced Houston Baptist, falling 5-0 to the Huskies.
In their tri-match at Ottawa University, the Wildcats started their weekend with a 4-1 win over Arizona Christian. The team earned wins at nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5, sweeping on courts one and five. Ottawa was a tougher match for ACU as they fell 5-0 without taking a set from OUAZ.
At the GCU invite, the Wildcats once again started the tournament with a win as they faced San Diego City College. In another 4-1 win, ACU won on courts two through five, but took the match on court one to three sets but falling 15-9 in set three. The Wildcats would then face nationally ranked GCU in their second match of the day, once again falling 5-0 without taking a set.
On day two of the GCU tournament the Wildcats would again face top-ranked competition in Cal Poly to open the day. ACU put up a tough fight on a couple of courts but were unable to match the Mustangs power. They closed the tournament against a familiar foe in Houston Baptist, but once again fell 5-0.
Coach's Insights
On playing some of the top beach programs in the country: "It has been tough playing against but we have seen big strides from each of our pairs playing against this type of competition. The level of game play will only help us to become better beach players and a stronger team. This growth is getting us ready for our conference tournament at the end of April."
On getting two wins on the week: "It is nice to get wins early on in the season, it helps to keep our team morale high. The confidence from these wins has help us to challenge some of these highly ranked programs and validate that we can compete with anyone."
On how the team can prepare for their doubleheader: "Going into our doubleheader on Monday, each of our pairs are focusing on the successes they all had this weekend. Taking all their positives and letting that be the focus of their game strategy."
Results
ACU 4, Arizona Christian 1
1. Hunter Barker/ Mackenzie Harris (AbCu) def Marina Samaniego/ Aubri Green (ACU) 21-17 21-18
2. Kennedy Shelstend/ Logan Browning (AbCu) def Brittany Western/ Issa Martell (ACU) 10-21 22-20 15-8
3. Brittany Roberts/ Claire Dunn (AbCu) def Maddie Lapierre/ Annabelle Camoirano (ACU) 21-13 17-21 15-10
4. Alyssa Fierro/ JJ Curry (ACU) def Madison Rohre/ Ally Anderson (AbCu) 21- 14 9-21 15-12
5. Lindsey Toney/ Brea Box (AbCu) def Addison Dolan/ Courtney Root (ACU) 22-20 21-15
Order of Finish: 1,5,2,3,4
Ottawa 5, ACU 0
1. Serrano, Viri/Gonzalez, Andrea (OUAZ) def. Barker,Hunter/Harris,Mackenzie (ABI) 21-17, 21-10
2. Rodgers, Valerie/Taylor, Mikelle (OUAZ) def. Shelstead,Kennedy/Browning,Logan (ABI) 21-11, 21-9
3. Dizon, Katia/Willison, Abbey (OUAZ) def. Dunn,Claire/Roberts,Brittney (ABI) 21-13, 21-18
4. Viray, Katelyn/Atsaros, Ashleih (OUAZ) def. Anderson,Allyson/Rohre,Madison (ABI) 21-18, 21-14
5. Mason, Isabel/Clausen, Mariah (OUAZ) def. Box,Breanna/Toney,Lindsey (ABI) 21-9, 21-9
Order of finish: 2,1,5,3,4
ACU 4, SDCC 1
1. Hillary Williamson/Alina Fletes (SDCC) def. Hunter Barker/Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 21-14, 16-21, 15-9
2. Logan Browning/Kennedy Shelstead (ACU) def. Jacque Ortegon/Kareemah Hopkins (SDCC) 21-14, 21-14
3. Claire Dunn/Brittney Roberts (ACU) def. Debbie Powers/Kiara Pena (SDCC) 7-21, 21-16, 15-11
4. Allyson Anderson/Madison Rohre (ACU) def. Mariah Wonders/Jen Yee (SDCC) 21-11, 24-22
5. Lindsey Toney/Brea Box (ACU) def. Diana Ramirez/Alana Holloway (SDCC) 21-16, 21-15
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 3, 1
GCU 5, ACU 0
1. Teagan DeFalco/Bella Baumann (GCU) def. Hunter Banker/Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 21-13, 21-17
2. Hannah Towne/Jessica Stansfield (GCU) def. Kennedy Shelstead/Logan Browning (ACU) 21-9, 21-9
3. Anaya Evans/Katie Sarber (GCU) def. Claire Dunn/Brittany Roberts (ACU) 21-10, 21-11)
4. Natalie Honzovicova/Katie Hess (GCU) def. Ally Anderson/Madison Rohre (ACU) 21-12, 21-9
5. Taylor Jarzombek/Madi Relaz (GCU) def. Lindsey Toney/Brea Box (ACU) 21-12, 21-10
Order to finish: 2, 4, 1, 5, 3
Cal Poly 5, ACU 0
1. Mariah Whaley/Tia Miric (Cal Poly) def. Hunter Barker/Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 21-12, 21-12
2. Torrey Van Winden/Macy Gordon (Cal Poly) def. Kennedy Shelstead/Logan Browning (ACU) 21-6, 21-4
3. Vanessa Roscoe/Jayelin Lombard (Cal Poly) def. Claire Dunn/Brittany Roberts (ACU) 21-8, 21-11
4. Delaney Peranich/Brayden Gruenewald (Cal Poly) def. Ally Anderson/Madison Rohre (ACU) 21-8, 21-7
5. Heather Pembroke/Kalee Graff (Cal Poly) def. Lindsey Toney/Brea Box (ACU) 21-18, 21-6
Order to finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5
HBU 5, ACU 0
1. Tori Hinojosa/Danielle Okere (HBU) def. Hunter Banker/Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 21-19, 21-9
2. Natalie Bennett/Elsa Descamps (HBU) def. Kennedy Shelstead/Logan Browning (ACU) 21-13, 21-14
3. Kylie Bryan/Maddie Butters (HBU) def. Claire Dunn/Brittany Roberts (ACU) 21-6, 21-9
4. Alison Stanfill/Lindsay Harris (HBU) def. Ally Anderson/Madison Rohre (ACU) 21-13, 21-10
5. Lauren Huggins/Amy Underdown (HBU) def. Lindsey Toney/Brea Box (ACU) 21-9, 21-17
Order to finish: 4, 2, 3, 1, 5
