Huskies Come Up Short Against No. 2 and No. 12

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Pac-12 North Invitational gave the Huskies two major challenges in just their second week of dual match action, as UW went against second-ranked USC to start the day and then ended it against 12th-ranked Arizona. The Huskies were swept by the Trojans, but were more competitive against the Wildcats in a 4-1 defeat, with Shayne McPherson and Chloe Loreen getting another win at the No. 1 position.
 
The Huskies will have the big underdog role again tomorrow morning against No. 1 UCLA before ending the weekend against Arizona State.
 
In the day's second outing against Arizona, the Huskies got two of the five first sets, but only McPherson and Loreen were able to close it out, as they topped UA's top duo of Parkhurst/Rennis, 21-13, 21-14. Washington's top pair are now 4-2 in dual matches, with wins against Arizona, Stanford, Arizona State, and Utah.
 
Cassidy Schilling and Callie Weber had a 21-19 first set win at No. 5, but lost the second set, 14-21, and dropped the third, 4-15.
 
The Huskies also shifted the middle of their lineup around against Arizona, teaming up Natalie Robinson and Avie Niece for the first time at No. 2, but they dropped their debut, 21-16, 21-14. At the No. 3 spot, Scarlett Dahl and Ashley Shook were very competitive in a 21-16, 21-17 loss. Kyra Petersen and Hannah Yerex fell 21-14, 21-17 at No. 4.
 
Washington was unable to make much of a dent in the Trojans' (15-2) second-ranked lineup. McPherson and Loreen lost a 21-11, 21-12 match at No. 1 to Tina Graudina and Megan Kraft. Julia Scoles and Sammy Slater of USC beat Natalie Robinson and Scarlett Dahl by a 21-10, 21-11 count. At the No. 3 spot, Avie Niece and Hannah Yerex dropped a 21-11, 21-11 decision and Ashley Shook and Kyra Petersen fell, 21-10, 21-12, at No. 4. Cassidy Schilling and Callie Weber had a 21-9, 21-15 loss to Audrey and Nicole Nourse in the No. 5 position.
 
 
Washington Beach Volleyball
April 10, 2021
Pac-12 North Invitational | Phoenix, Ariz.
Grand Canyon University
 
Match 1
 
Washington – 0
#2 USC – 5
 
Singles
1. Graudina/Kraft (USC) def. McPherson/Loreen (UW) – 21-11, 21-12
2. Scoles/Slater (USC) def. Robinson/Dahl (UW) – 21-10, 21-11
3. Hallgren/Harward (USC) def. Niece/Yerex (UW) – 21-11, 21-11
4. Dennis/Maple (USC) def. Petersen/Shook (UW) – 21-10, 21-12
5. Nourse/Nourse (USC) def. Schilling/Weber (UW) – 21-9, 21-15
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 4, 5, 2
 
Match 2
 
Washington – 1
No. 12 Arizona – 4
 
Singles
1. McPherson/Loreen (UW) def. Parkhurst/Rennis (Ariz) – 21-13, 21-14
2. Blacker/Burling (Ariz) def. Niece/Robinson (UW) – 21-16, 21-14
3. Anselmo/Lowry (Ariz) def. Dahl/Shook (UW) – 21-16, 21-17
4. Noble/Parker (Ariz) def. Petersen/Yerex (UW) – 21-14, 21-17
5. Baham/Hallaran (Ariz) def. Schilling/Weber (UW) – 19-21, 21-14, 15-4
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 3, 2, 5