(Chula Vista, CA) The Park University Gilbert beach volleyball team reached the semifinals of the California Pacific Conference Championships today before falling to top-ranked Corban, ending its NAIA tournament postseason hopes. Playing at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., the Bucs came from behind to win their quarterfinal matchup with Bushnell 3-2 before falling to defending national champion Corban 3-1.
In the quarterfinal match against Bushnell, the Bucs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in an epic match as the No. 2 flight of Annika Wallace and Megan Hicks won in three sets, winning the decider 17-15. Bushnell would take the No. 4 flight in three sets (15-12 in the third) to even the match at 1-all.
Moving to the 1-3-5 flights, the Beacons would take a 2-1 lead after winning the 5s in straight sets. This would mean the Bucs would have to win at both the No. 1 and 3 flights to move on.
The Buccos would do just that as the No. 3 team of Jasmine Urban and Brittlee Harper would win in straight set handily (14 and 16) and the top flight of Georgia Romine-Black and Grace Baker would also win easily in straight sets (17 and 15) to clinch the match.
This moved Park Gilbert into the semifinals against Corban, a team it has never beaten and had eliminated them from the Cal Pac Championships last year. Unfortunately for Bucs fans they were not able to get over the hump today as well. The Buccaneers fell 3-1, losing at the 1, 2 and 4 flights, while the No. 5 duo of Avery Turk and DeLaney Poling won in straight sets. The No. 3 flight match was halted after the match was clinched.
The Buccaneers season is not over however as they still have matches scheduled next week, April 14-15 against Arizona Christian (if the Firestorm do not make the NAIA Tournament) and three against Division I opponents Grand Canyon University, the University of Utah and Arizona State University. All of these matches will be played at Arizona State.
Match 1 – Park Gilbert 3, Bushnell 2
1) Georgia Romine-Black and Grace Baker (Park) def. Logan Kaneshiro and Makenna Northern (Bushnell) (21-17, 21-15)
2) Annika Wallace and Megan Hicks (Park) def. Roslyn McLellan and Madison Trueblood (Bushnell) (21-15, 18-21, 17-15)
3) Jasmine Urban and Brittlee Harper (Park) def. Jadeya Hayes and Brooke Silvernail (Bushnell) (21-16, 21-14)
4) Laci Jespersen and Halle Neumann (Bushnell) def. Samantha Washmuth and Brooke Beresford (Park) (21-14, 19-21,15-12)
5) Abigail Nelson and Anessa Stotts (Bushnell) def. Avery Turk and DeLaney Poling (Park) (21-18, 21-9)
Order of Finish: 2,4,5,3,1*
Match 2- Corban 3, Park Gilbert 1
1s: Megan Dennis and Avari Ridgeway (Corban) def. Georgia Romine-Black and Grace Baker (Park) (21-11, 21-15)
2s: Cameron Keeling and Kianna Keeling (Corban) def. Annika Wallace and Megan Hicks (Park) (21-15, 21-19)
3s: TRUNCATED Maya Blake and Kealani Ontai (Corban) / Jasmine Urban and Brittlee Harper (Park) (21-15Corban)
4s: Ally Schmidt and Jessica McMillian (Corban) def. Samantha Washmuth and Brooke Beresford (Park) (21-12, 21-19)
5s: Avery Turk and DeLaney Poling (Park) def. Jolinn Daviscourt and Kalisi Latu (Corban) (21-18, 21-18)
Order of Finish: 2,4,5,1*
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
Click on Logo
