University of San Francisco Athletics

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The University of San Francisco beach volleyball team completed day one of competition at the West Coast Conference Midseason Tournament Friday, falling 4-1 to Santa Clara in a tightly contested match and getting swept by No. 18/18 Saint Mary's, 5-0, in the afternoon match at Main Beach.
 
The Dons (7-9) stayed right with Santa Clara (1-3) throughout the match, dropping six different sets by three points or less. Camille Araujo and Victoria Rogers earned the Dons' lone pairs victory of the day, beating Santa Clara's Alexa Dreyer and Natalia Rentsch at the No. 4 pairs spot, 21-11 and 21-16.
 
USF's top pair of Anna Dalla Vecchia and Carly Lowry were within two points in both sets versus the Broncos' Michelle Gajdka and Tessie Powers, falling 21-19 and 22-20. Ella Reames and Moana To'oto'o were also in a close match at No. 3 pairs, falling 21-18, 21-18 to SCU's Kathryn Decker and Lili Light.
 
No. 18/18 Saint Mary's (12-5) held down the Dons in the final match of the day. SMC's top duo of Sarah Chase and Lindsey Knudsen beat Dalla Vecchia and Lowry, 21-11, 21-8. Kate Ashman and Trish Koutsoukos battled at the No. 5 pairs spot. The Dons pair won the first set, 21-17, but dropped set No. 2, 21-10, and the deciding third frame, 15-4.
 
The WCC Midseason Tournament concludes Saturday with two matches for each team. San Francisco opens the day at 9 a.m. versus Portland. The winner will face No. 18/18 Saint Mary's at 11 a.m., while the loser will face the loser of the Santa Clara vs. Pacific match at 1 p.m.
 
Santa Clara 4, San Francisco 1
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 29, 2019
 
1. Michelle Gajdka/Tessie Powers (SCU) def. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Carly Lowry (USF), 21-19, 22-20
2. Alex Anthony/Chloe Loreen (SCU) def. Madelyn LaFollette/Emily Zinger (USF), 21-15, 25-23
3. Kathryn Decker/Lili Light (SCU) def. Ella Reames/Moana To'oto'o (USF), 21-18, 21-18
4. Camille Araujo/Victoria Rogers (USF) def. Alexa Dreyer/Natalia Rentsch (SCU), 21-11, 21-16
5. Brittany Gillingham/Grechen Reinert (SCU) def. Tanner Shayne Pemberton/Sophie Sydenham (USF), 21-16, 21-18
 
#18/18 Saint Mary's 5, San Francisco 0
Main Beach – Santa Cruz, Calif.
March 29, 2019
 
1. Sarah Chase/Lindsey Knudsen (SMC) def. Dalla Vecchia/ Lowry (USF), 21-11, 21-8
2. Emily Bible/Lindsey Calvin (SMC) def. LaFollette/ Zinger (USF), 21-14, 21-6
3. Alexsa "Crash" Parker/Sienna Young (SMC) def. Reames/ To'oto'o (USF), 21-15, 21-14
4. Chandler Cowell/Jennifer "Boo" Laird (SMC) def. Araujo/ Rogers (USF), 21-16, 21-4
5. Selbie Christensen/Morgan Kendrick (SMC) def. Kate Ashman/Trish Koutsoukos (USF), 17-21, 21-10, 15-4