Cats Advance in NCAA Beach Championships to Take on Hawaii

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 6 nationally ranked Arizona sand volleyball team opened up the first day of play at the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship taking on Pepperdine. The Cats fell to Pepperdine, 1-3 moving them to the Elimination Bracket to take on Georgia State. After a battle, UA defeated GSU, 3-2 to close out the day of play. Arizona now holds a (20-6) record.

The Wildcats got off to a strong start, but fell to the No. 1 seed Pepperdine. Arizona's No. 3 pair of Olivia Macdonald and Sam Manley fought hard, but didn't pull through as the Waves duo of Caputo and Quiggle picked up a win, (18-21, 10-18). The Sand Cats No. 5 duo of Hailey Devlin and Mackenzie Kleespies battled as they took the match to three sets, but Pepperdine team of Cash and Seiber got the victory, (21-18, 12-21, 9-15). The Waves No. 4 tandem of Roh and Wilson picked up a win against UA's Mia Mason and Kalei Mau in consecutive sets, (15-21, 15-21). The Wildcats No. 2 team of Jianna Bonomi and Katarina Schulz earned a victory against Pepperdine's Bailey and Knudsen in straight sets, (21-16, 21-19). The No. 1 pairs match featuring Arizona's Madison Witt and Makenna Witt was tied at a set apiece before it was stopped once Pepperdine took the match, 3-1.

UA would then head to the Elimination Bracket to compete against Georgia State. The Cats came ready to compete as they defeated GSU, 3-2. After a three-set rally the No. 4 team of Mia Mason and Kalei Mau earned a victory against GSU's duo of Weiner and Wilson as UA battled to claim the match, (22-20, 17-21,15-12). No. 5 pair of Tyler Lucas and MacKenzie Kleespies picked up a loss against Cook and Townsend in a hard fought three-set battle, (21-16, 20-22, 13-15). Madison Witt and McKenna Witt came out with a win against Button and Olivova, (21-18, 21-14). To secure the win, No. 2 duo of Jianna Bonomi and Katarina Schulz battled past GSU's Interwies and Rawls, (17-21, 21-13, 15-5) in a three-set match. GSU's Pickering and Rohan picked up a win against UA's No. 3 duo of Olivia Macdonald and Sam Manley in a tight match, (23-21, 18-21).

UA will return tomorrow, as they take on Hawaii in the Elimination Bracket for the first time this season in a dual at 11 a.m. MST.

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