University of San Francisco Athletics

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The University of San Francisco beach volleyball team played a strong match Saturday against one of the best teams in the country at the 2019 West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Championship, but the fourth-seeded Dons' ride came to an end with a sweep at the hands of No. 18/19 Saint Mary's on the final day of the tournament at Ocean Park Beach.
 
San Francisco (12-13) played to within seven points of a set on four separate occasions and scored double-digit points in nine of 10 sets played versus the nationally ranked Gaels (20-9). Madelyn LaFollette and Emily Zinger played the Dons' closest set of the day at the No. 2 pairs. They were within four points at 21-17 in the first set against SMC's Emily Bible and Lindsey Calvin, then fell 21-14 in the second.
 
USF's top pair of Anna Dalla Vecchia and Carly Lowry played the closest set of the day against SMC's top pair. After falling in the first set, 21-7, the Dons duo came back and were within the minimum two points at 21-19 when the match ended.
 
"We made significant progress this beach season by earning and holding the fourth seed at the WCC Championships," said San Francisco head coach Frank Lavrisha. "We were buoyed by our 1s, Lowry and Dalla Vecchia, who set the competitive tone for the Dons. Zinger and LaFollette came a long way to settle in at the 2s.
 
"To'oto'o and Reames are a young pair who had a strong mid-season and showed promise for the future. Araujo and Rogers gave us clutch performances to clinch a few dual wins. Pemberton and Sydenham show promise for the future."
 
2019 was a progressive season for the University of San Francisco beach volleyball team, which won six matches against NCAA Division I teams and was within one set against two others and avoided sweeps with competitive play in an additional four others.
 
"The Dons look forward to 2020 with the development of the returning student-athletes and roster additions for next season."
 
#18/19 (No. 3) Saint Mary's 5, No. 4 San Francisco 0
Ocean Park Beach – Santa Monica, Calif.
April 20, 2019
 
1. Sarah Chase/Lindsey Knudsen (SMC) def. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Carly Lowry (USF), 21-7, 21-19
2. Emily Bible/Lindsey Calvin (SMC) def. Madelyn LaFollette/Emily Zinger (USF), 21-17, 21-14
3. Alexsa "Crash" Parker/Sienna Young (SMC) def. Ella Reames/Moana To'oto'o (USF), 21-13, 21-12
4. Chandler Cowell/Jennifer "Boo" Laird (SMC) def. Camille Araujo/Victoria Rogers (USF), 21-13, 21-15
5. Selbie Christensen/Morgan Kendrick (SMC) def. Lena Bondar/Tanner Pemberton( USF), 21-12, 21-11
 
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 1, 4, 2