TUCSON, Ariz. – The team of Madison and McKenna Witt advanced to the quarterfinals of the championship bracket to lead the Wildcats on the final day of the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Spring Challenge at the Queen’s Beach Sandbox on Saturday.
A total of 24 pairs from UH, Arizona, Hawaii Pacific, Nebraska and USC competed in eight different pools to determine seeding for Saturday's single-elimination brackets.
The Witt twins picked up a victory in the round of 16 to open up play on Saturday as they defeated the sister team of Amber Rolfzen and Kadie Rolfzen of Nebraska, 21-18, 21-17. The Witt’s were unable to move on to the semifinals as they ran into a tough matchup against Brittany Tiegs and Karissa Cook of Hawaii. Tiegs/Cook, who finished as the runner-ups in the tournament, defeated the Witt’s, 21-16, 21-13.
Tiegs/Cook also defeated the Arizona duo of Madi Kingdon and Jane Croson in the round of 16, 21-12, 21-12. Kingdon/Croson bounced back to defeat Cecilia Hall and Alexa Ethridge of Nebraska, 21-14, 21-17. Kingdon earned the Aloha Spirit award following the tournament.
In the consolation bracket, the Arizona duo of Ronni Lewis and Taylor Arizobal defeated Sophia Blaszyk and Marie Fujii of Hawaii Pacific, 21-12, 21-6. Lewis and Arizobal fell in a tough three-set match in the quarterfinals to Olivia Urban and Sarah Mendoza of Hawaii, 18-21, 21-18, 15-10.
Meanwhile, Sarah Seiber and Rachel Rhoades also earned a victory in the round of 16 as they knocked off Pomai Recca and Hannah Schuett of Hawaii Pacific, 21-12, 21-15. Seiber and Rhoades were taken down by Mikayla Tucker and Sydney Shinn of Hawaii, 21-9, 21-19 in the quarterfinals.
The Wildcats return to action on Friday as they travel to Phoenix for competitions against Nebraska and Grand Canyon.
Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Spring Challenge
Awards:
Best Offense: Karissa Cook, Hawai‘i
Best Defense: Sarah Hughes, USC
Best Blocker: Kirby Burnham, USC
Aloha Spirit: Madi Kingdon, Arizona
Gold Bracket
Round of 16
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Amanda Moriaty/Samantha Rummans (HPU), 21-9, 21-4
Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Ali Longo/Ginger Long (UH) vs. 22-20, 21-18
Mel Kiel/Justine Wong-Orantes (NEB) def. Sam Hirschmann/Natasja Siljkovic (USC), 18-21, 21-16, 18-16
Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC) def. Katie Spieler/Nikki Taylor (UH), 12-21, 21-10, 18-16
Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Mary Pollmiller/Kelsey Fien (NEB), 21-15, 21-13
Tayler Higgins/London Chow (UH) def. Cecilia Hall/Alexa Ethridge (NEB), 21-14, 21-9
McKenna Witt/Madison Witt (UA) def. Amber Rolfzen/Kadie Roflzen (NEB), 21-18, 21-17
Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH) def. Jane Croson/Madi Kingdon (UA) 21-12, 21-12
Quarterfinals
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC), 21-10, 21-14
Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC) def. Mel Kiel/Justine Wong-Orantes (NEB), 21-18, 21-19
Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH) def. McKenna Witt/Madison Witt (UA), 21-16, 21-13
Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Tayler Higgins/London Chow (UH), 21-16, 21-16
Semifinals
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC), 19-21, 21-12, 15-11
Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH) def. Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC), 21-16, 21-17
Championship
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH), 21-18, 21-16
Consolation Matches
Ally Wheeler/Paige Hines (USC) def. Mary Pollmiller/Kelsey Fien (NEB), 21-14, 18-21, 15-13
Jane Croson/Madi Kingdon (UA) def. Cecilia Hall/Alexa Ethridge (NEB), 21-14, 21-17
Katie Spieler/Nikki Taylor (UH) def. Sam Hirschmann/Natasja Siljkovic (USC), 21-19, 21-10
Ali Longo/Ginger Long (UH) def. Amber Rolfzen/Kadie Roflzen (NEB), 21-16, 21-16
Silver Bracket
Round of 16
Ronni Lewis/Taylor Arizobal (UA) def. Sophia Blaszyk/Marie Fujii (HPU), 21-12, 21-6
Olivia Urban/Sarah Mendoza (UH) def. Paige Hines/Alexx Murphy (USC), 20-22, 22-20, 15-5
Alex Stonish/Mary Buckingham (USC) def. Allie Cook/Penina Snuka (UA) 21-10, 22-20
Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) def. Christina Furrer/Kasey Thompson (HPU) 21-6, 21-10
Sarah Seiber/Rachel Rhoades (UA) def. Pomai Recca/Hannah Schuett (HPU), 21-12, 21-15
Mikayla Tucker/Sydney Shinn (UH) def. Jamie Asuncion/Haley Doerfler (HPU), 21-10, 21-19
Brooke Fournier/Kati Duddridge (USC) def. Emily Kiser/Laura Larson (UA), 21-16, 21-14
Brenna Lyles/Alicia Ostrander (NEB) def. Kara Wong/Jasmine Fujimoto (HPU), 21-7, 21-12
Quarterfinals
Olivia Urban/Sarah Mendoza (UH) def. Ronni Lewis/Taylor Arizobal (UA), 18-21, 21-18, 15-10
Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) def. Alex Stonish/Mary Buckingham (USC), 21-12, 21-14
Brooke Fournier/Kati Duddridge (USC) def. Kira Larson/Alicia Ostrander (NEB), 21-18, 25-23
Mikayla Tucker/Sydney Shinn (UH) def. Sarah Seiber/Rachel Rhoades (UA), 21-9, 21-19
Semifinals
Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) def. Olivia Urban/Sarah Mendoza (UH), 21-10, 21-16
Mikayla Tucker/Sydney Shinn (UH) def. Brooke Fournier/Kati Duddridge (USC), 15-21, 21-16, 15,11
Championship
Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) def. Mikayla Tucker/Sydney Shinn (UH), 21-11, 22-20
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