Beach Volleyball Splits Friday's Action in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. - The Utah beach volleyball team split their matches on Friday after sweeping The Master's University before falling to Concordia (Irvine) 4-1 to close out the day. Utah moved to 6-9 overall this season after the day of non-conference matchups.

The Utes opened the loaded weekend of play with their third 5-0 victory of the season. Amaya Messier and Sage Patchell earned their first win on court one of the season as the duo took down The Master's top team 21-17, 23-21. Courts three, four and five also put in the work to earn straight set victories on the day with convincing wins over the respective opponents. On court two, Grace Andrews and Bella Vezzani fell behind after dropping the first set, but turned it around and won the next frames 21-16, 15-10 to compete the sweep for Utah. 

In the second meeting of the year between Utah and Concordia, the Utes were limited in the win column although tight matches were played across the board.  No court was separated by more than a final score beyond five points in any set, but it was Concordia that managed to come out on top on courts one through four in straight sets. The highlight of the match came once again on court five with Sydney Jacinto and Kylie Pitzak earning their fourth-straight win on court five. Jacinto and Pitzak downed their opponents 26-24, 21-19 in a tightly contested match. 

Utah will continue action in Irvine on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. PT against host Irvine Valley College. Then, Utah will close out the day's play against CSU Bakersfield at 1 p.m. PT before heading to Manhattan Beach for a pair of matches on Sunday.

Utah 5, Master's 0
1. Amaya Messier/Sage Patchell (UU) def. Chloe Johnson/Kassidy Wilson (TMU) 21-17, 23-21
2. Grace Andrews/Bella Vezzani (UU) def. Kasie Spencer/Evi Yates (TMU) 16-21, 21-16, 15-10
3. Marissa Koch/Samantha Leight (UU) def. Tara Lono/Kaylie Phelps (TMU), 21-13, 21-17
4. Lauren Sayre/Sommer Daniel (UU) def. Emily Williams/Annika Booker (TMU) 21-10, 21-6
5. Kylie Pitzak/Sydney Jacinto (UU) def. CJ Catabona/Swen Garats (TMU) 21-12, 21-12

CUI 4, Utah 1
1. Hannah Phair/Vanessa Bernzen (CUI) def. Amaya Messier /Sage Patchell 21-17, 21-17
2. Sara Ostojic/Hailee Ryan (CUI) def. Grace Andrews/Bella Vezaani (Utah) 26-24, 23-21
3. Shannon Evans/Tatum Smith (CUI) def. Marissa Koch/Sam Leight (Utah) 21-16, 21-19
4. Eva Prewitt/Isabella Bush (CUI) def. Sommer Daniels/Lauren Sayre (Utah) 21-18, 21-17
5. Kylie Pitzak/Sydney Jacinto (Utah) def. Lauren Clifton/Nicole Miller (CUI) 26-24, 21-19