Cats Close Out First Day of Play in Zuma Classic Undefeated

MALIBU, Calif. – The No. 6 ranked Arizona Sand Volleyball team picked up two wins today against LMU, 3-2 and CSU Bakersfield, 5-0 to open up the Zuma Classic in Malibu, Calif. UA closed out the day now holding a 10-2 record.

The Sand Cats opened up the tournament ready to take action. Arizona’s No. 1 tandem of Madison and Mckenna Witt got a well-earned win against LMU’s No. 1 team of Avery Bush and Rachelle Suaava as they took the match to three sets (21-15, 15-21, 15-8). 

Meanwhile on court two, Wildcats’ No.2 team of Jianna Bonomi and Katarina Schulz also picked up a win as they dominated against Veronica Nederend and Lindsay Carr, (21-8, 21-12).

The Lions duo of Jamie Leu and Tatiana Schlange picked up a win against Arizonas No. 3 duo of Olivia Macdonald and Samantha Manley taking the match to three (7-21,21-18, 15-11).

MacKenzie Kleespies and Hailey Devlin, UA’s No. 5 team snatched a win against the LMU’s No. 5 duo of Sara Kovov and Kristen Castellanos, (16-21, 21-14, 15-2).

On court one, the No. 4 team of Mia Mason and Sara Pantovic fell to the Lions team of Kekai Whitford and Sascha Dominique, (21-6, 21-9).

Arizona would then go on to hit the sand against CSU Bakersfield to close out the day of play.

At the No. 2 position Jianna Bonomi and Katarina Schulz earned a victory against Edith Urias and Jocelyn Rodrguez on court two, (21-10, 21-13).

The Wildcats’ No. 3 pair of Olivia Macdonald and Sam Manley picked up a victory against Sophie Flemion and Kelsee Sawyer, (21-12, 21-15).

UA’s No. 5 team of Hailey Devlin and MacKenzie Kleespies owned the court as they defeated the RoadRunners duo of Amanda Schoene and Katie Dunbar-Lowe, (21-7, 21-8).

Mia Mason and Kalei Mau, who substituded for Sara Pantovic, were Arizona’s No. 4 pair and took down Kayla Tinker and Ally Barber in consecutive sets, (21-17, 21-4).

Meanwhile, the No. 1 tandem of Madison and McKenna Witt dominated court one as they earned a victory against CSUB’s Sydney Hayes and Carol Grasso, (21-9, 21-12).

Tomorrow, UA concludes their weekend of play at the Zuma Classic, as they take on No. 1 Pepperdine at 10 a.m. in Malibu, California. This will be the first match up of the season the Sand Cats will have with the No.1 team. Pepperdine holds a (11-1) record as they dropped their first match of the season to No. 5 UCLA, (2-3).

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For this weekend’s entire schedule see below.

Match Schedule

Sunday, April 3 (Zuma Classic)

Arizona at Pepperdine (10 a.m.)