EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco beach volleyball team wrapped up the 2021 season by going 1-2 on the first day of the West Coast Conference Championships at Dockweiler Beach on Friday afternoon.
 
The Dons opened the day falling to No. 3 Saint Mary's 5-0, USF rebounded by defeating No. 7 Portland 3-2 and capped off their tournament run with a 4-1 loss to No. 5 Pacific.

"The Dons were valiant in their effort today at the WCC Beach Championships and went down swinging until the end," said head coach Frank Lavrisha. "It was a strong showing against Portland to stay alive but we ran out of gas against Pacific to finish our season. It was fitting to have Anna and Catie complete their careers with a win at the 1s."

The Dons began the three match day dropping a 5-0 decision to the Gaels.  The Dons fall to 0-3 against Saint Mary's on the year. SMC's top due ended a four-match winning streak by the Dons' Anna Dalla Vecchia and Catie Cronister, falling 21-18, 21-15.
 
MATCH 2 - No. 3 Saint Mary's 5, No. 6 San Francisco 0
1. Chandler Cowell/Elena Baka (SMC) def. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Catie Cronister (USF): 21-18, 21-15
2. Crash Parker/Hawley Harrer (SMC) def. Tanner Pemberton/Greta Corti (USF): 21-18, 21-17
3. Jasmin Suarez/Sienna Young (SMC) def. Sophie Sydenham/Katie Wagstaff (USF): 21-17, 21-11
4. Morgan Kendrick/Boo Laird (SMC) def. Bruna Correa/Serafina Rivera (USF): 21-14, 21-15
5. Makenna Joyce/Selbie Christensen (SMC) def. Sara Denham/Jessica Eanes (USF): 21-11, 21-11
 
Order of finish: 5, 1, *3, 4, 2
 
In the afternoon, the Dons rebounded by beating Portland 3-2. Dalla Vecchia and Cronister got back into the win column with a 21-19, 21-16 win in the 1s. Bruna Correa and Serafina Rivera played a tremendous match, winning in straight sets in the 4s 22-20 and 21-13. Tanner Pemberton and Greta Corti sealed the win with a three-set win over the Pilots duo of Noe Helm and Kellie Hughes, winning 21-19, 20-22, 15-9.
 
MATCH 6 - No. 6 San Francisco 3, No. 7 Portland 2
1. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Catie Cronister (USF) def. Alycia Wodke/Shayla Hoeft (POR): 21-19, 21-16 (4)
2. Tanner Pemberton/Greta Corti (USF) def. Noe Helm/Kellie Hughes (POR): 21-19, 20-22, 15-9 (5)
3. Jayde Harris/Grace Zilbert (POR) def. Sophie Sydenham/Katie Wagstaff (USF): 21-16, 21-18 (3)
4. Bruna Correa/Serafina Rivera (USF) def. Malu Hirahara/Kendall Nolan (POR): 22-20, 21-13 (2)
5. Liz Reich/Krysten Bugarin (POR): def. Sara Denham/Jessica Eanes (USF): 21-15, 21-14  (1)
 
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, *1, 2
 
In the final match of the opening day, the Dons battled, but once again fell to the Tigers. Dalla Vecchia and Cronister got the only win for USF, winning in three sets 21-15, 17-21, 15-9. Pemberton and Corti battled but fell 18-21, 20-22.
 
MATCH 8 - No. 6 San Francisco 1, No. 5 Pacific 4
1. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Catie Cronister (USF) def. Hanne De Schrijver/Alexa Edwards (UOP): 21-15, 17-21, 15-9 (5)
2. Gabby Leo/Sedona Sherman (UOP)def.  Tanner Pemberton/Greta Corti (USF): 21-18, 22-20 (4)
3. Jenny Todd/Jadyn Tubbs (UOP) def. Sophie Sydenham/Katie Wagstaff (USF): 21-17, 21-13 (3)
4. Lucy Carpenter/Hania Taduran (UOP) def. Bruna Correa/Serafina Rivera (USF): 22-20, 21-12  (2)
5. Kaelyn Saler/Illyria Kalaj (UOP) def. Sara Denham/Jessica Eanes (USF): 21-18, 21-11  (1)
 
Order of finish: 5, 4, *3, 2, 1
 
NEXT UP
The Dons 2021 season has come to an end.  USF went 3-9 this season. Anna Dalla Vecchia went 7-4 overall to lead the Dons. Catie Cronister went 6-5. Today's match was the final match in head coach Frank Lavrisha who announced his retirement earlier this week. Lavrisha finishes his brilliant coaching career with 665 wins at both the Division I and II level.