Courtesy of Arizona Athletics
The Arizona 2018 beach volleyball team concluded its first weekend of opening season play. The Wildcats welcomed Benedictine at Mesa, Abilene Christian, and San Jose State for the two-day event.
Arizona opened up their weekend competition against Benedictine at Mesa at Saturday’s 2 p.m. game with a (5-0) sweep. The No. 5 pair Caroline Cordes and Makenna Martin started the weekend off strong with match results of (21-4, 21-8). Next to finish was the No. 4 pair Mia Mason and Jonny Baham defeating the Red Hawks (21-9, 21-7). Wildcat pair Brooke Burling and Candice Denny took down the No. 3 pair of Megan Block and Dani Burke, (21-12, 21-5). UA’s No. 2 team of Olivia Hallaran and Kacey Nady took down Caitlan Sammons and Sydney Nelson ending with a score of (21-7, 21-5). To clinch the win, Natalie Anselmo and Olivia Macdonald posing as the No. 1 pair dominated against Benedictine’s Jackie Woods and Kat McCullough, (21-7, 21-12).
The Wildcats then went on to begin their Sunday morning game play with a sweep against Abilene Christian (5-0). First to finish was No. 4 pair Mia Mason and Jonny Baham against Amy Weiss and Makenzie Kesler (21-7, 21-10). The Cats’ Makenna Martin and Caroline Cordes then went on to defeat Abilene Christians No. 5 pair Eighmy Dobbins and Kennedy Shelstead (21-11, 21-8). In straight sets, Arizona’s No. 3 pair of Brooke Burling and Candice Denny took down Katelyn Mueller and Lexie Rawls in straight sets, (21-10, 21-9). The Wildcats’ No. 2 tandem of Kacey Nady and Olivia Hallaran put another point on the board for Arizona as they defeated Brooke Riley and Lauren Walker, (21-11, 21-10). To secure the win, No. 1 UA pair of Natalie Anselmo and Olivia Macdonald dominated against Jacey Smith and Kendall Bosee, (21-10, 21-12).
Later that day, Arizona faced the San Jose State Spartans picking up their first win against the No. 4 team of Breann Robinson and Luiza Andrade. Pair Mia Mason and Jonny Baham earned a score of (21-18, 17-21, 15-7). The No. 5 duo of Makenna Martin and Caroline Cordes defeated the Spartans duo of Summer Avery and Kaitlynn Zdroik (21-16, 21-18). Next to finish was Arizona’s No. 3 pair of Brook Burling and Candice Denny where they claimed victory (21-19, 21-17) against Jamie Hirai and Haley Sturgeon. The team picked up another win as No. 2 pair Kacey Nady and Olivia Hallaran finished (21-14, 21-16) against the Spartans’ Ciara Reistad and Julia Golbeck. Natalie Anselmo and Olivia Macdonald of Arizona’s No. 1 team pulled away with a victory against Nandyala Gama and Lyndi Scholl where they took the match to 3 sets, (21-17, 21-23, 15-13).
Arizona will return to Bear Down Beach March 2-3 for the Arizona Invitational. The Cats will welcome New Mexico, Washington, and LMU.
Results
#9 Arizona 5, Benedictine 0
Doubles competition
1. Natalie Anselmo/Olivia Macdonald (ARIZ) def. Jackie Woods/Kat McCullough (BENE) 21-7, 21-12
2. Olivia Hallaran/Kacey Nady (ARIZ) def. Caitlan Sammons/Sydney Nelson (BENE) 21-7, 21-5
3. Candice Denny/Brooke Burling (ARIZ) def. Megan Block/Dani Burke (BENE) 21-12, 21-5
4. Mia Mason/Jonny Baham (ARIZ) def. Anokina Mirzapour/Kassandra Renteria (BENE) 21-9, 21-7
5. Caroline Cordes/Makenna Martin (ARIZ) def. Madison Peters/Hayden Boucher (BENE) 21-4, 21-8
Order of finish: Doubles (5, 4, 3, 2, 1);
#9 Arizona 5, Abilene Christian 0
Doubles Competition
1. Kacey Nady/Olivia Hallaran (ARIZ) def. Brooke Riley/Lauren Walker (ACU) 21-11, 21-10
2. Natalie Anselmo/Olivia Macdonald (ARIZ) def. Jacey Smith/Kendall Bosse (ACU) 21-10, 21-12
3. Brooke Burling/Candice Denny (ARIZ) def. Katelyn Mueller/Lexie Rawls (ACU) 21-10, 21-9
4. Jonny Baham/Mia Mason (ARIZ) def. Amy Weiss/Makenzie Kesler (ACU) 21-7, 21-10
5. Makenna Martin/Caroline Cordes (ARIZ) def. Eighmy Dobbins/Kennedy Shelstead (ACU) 21-11, 21-8
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,3,1,2);
#9 Arizona 5, San Jose State 0
Doubles Competition
1. Kacey Nady/Olivia Hallaran (ARIZ) def. Ciara Reistad/Julia Golbeck (SJSU) 21-14, 21-16
2. Natalie Anselmo/Olivia Macdonald (ARIZ) def. Nandyala Gama/Lyndi Scholl (SJSU) 21-17, 21-23, 15-13
3. Brooke Burling/Candice Denny (ARIZ) def. Jamie Hirai/Haley Sturgeon (SJSU) 21-19, 21-17
4. Jonny Baham/Mia Mason (ARIZ) def. Breann Robinson/Luiza Andrade (SJSU) 21-18, 17-21, 15-7
5. Makenna Martin/Caroline Cordes (ARIZ) def. Summer Avery/Kaitlynn Zdroik (SJSU) 21-16, 21-18
