Huskies Beat Utes But Fall To No. 2 Bruins In L.A.

Sunday, March 8

Los Angeles, CA

9:00 AM

University of Washington

Utah

March 08, 2020 | Beach Volleyball

By: UW Athletic Communications

LOS ANGELES – The Husky beach volleyball team picked up its first win over a Pac-12 opponent this morning before dropping an afternoon match against the No. 2 team in the nation as it finished play at the Pac-12 South Invitational. Washington (3-4) had a 4-1 win over Utah at Ocean Park before dropping a 5-0 dual to the host Bruins at Mapes Beach.

Washington will have a week off for finals next week before traveling to Hawaii for a five-match run from March 21-23.

Match 1

The Huskies took to the Santa Monica sand at 9 a.m. this morning to face the Utes for the first time this year. Washington won four of five first sets and earned three straight-set wins to clinch, before splitting a pair of third sets to close it out.

Kara Bajema and Shayne McPherson had a quick win at the No. 1 spot, defeating Robinson and Koerber, 21-9, 21-8. Natalie Robinson and Chloe Loreen followed with a 21-19, 21-15 win at No. 2 against Villela/Sproule.

Callie Weber and Scarlett Dahl got the clincher at No. 4 with a 21-18, 21-16 win over Granato/Hallums.

Utah got a three-set win at No. 3, with Daniel/Windisch defeating Emma Calle and Addie Picha, 22-20, 16-21, 15-6. But Washington got the final point in a marathon third set, as Avie Niece and Shannon Crenshaw teamed up for a 21-19, 17-21, 21-19 win over Schmidt and Smalls of Utah at No. 5.

Match 2

Taking on their toughest opponent thus far in two-time defending national champion UCLA, the Huskies had some close sets and held their own but ultimately couldn't get on the board and lost 5-0 for the first time this season.

In the No. 1 match, McPherson and Bajema had a swing to tie the first set at 16-17 but it went just wide and UCLA's Simo/Van Winkle won the next three points to take the close set, 21-16, and then broke open the second set, 21-10.

Robinson and Loreen dropped a pair of 21-15 sets against Denaburg/Sparks at the No. 2 position. At the No. 3 spot, Robinson and Picha stayed right with Justine/Monkhouse but fell just short, 21-19, 21-14.

Claire Hoffman paired with Scarlett Dahl at the fours and they jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the first set but UCLA's Phair/Powers rallied back and won 21-14, 21-16. Avie Niece and Callie Weber dropped a 21-11, 21-17 decision at the No. 5 court.

Washington Beach Volleyball
March 8, 2020
Pac-12 South Invitational

Match 1 – Ocean Park, Santa Monica

Washington – 4
Utah – 1

1) Bajema/McPherson (UW) def. Robinson/Koerber (Utah), 21-9, 21-8
2) Loreen/Robinson (UW) def. Villela/Sproule (Utah), 21-19, 21-15
3) Daniel/Windisch (Utah) def. Calle/Picha (UW), 22-20, 16-21, 15-6
4) Weber/Dahl (UW) def. Granato/Hallums (Utah), 21-18, 21-16
5) Niece/Crenshaw (UW) def. Schmidt/Smalls (Utah), 21-19, 17-21, 21-19
Order of finish: 1, 2, 4*, 3, 5

Match 2 – Los Angeles (UCLA Campus)

No. 19 Stanford – 4
Washington – 1

1) Simo/Van Winkle (UCLA) def. McPherson/Bajema (UW), 21-16, 21-10
2) Denaburg/Sparks (UCLA) def. Robinson/Loreen (UW), 21-15, 21-15
3) Justine/Monkhouse (UCLA) def. Calle/Picha (UW), 21-19, 21-14
4) Phair/Powers (UCLA) def. Hoffman/Dahl (UW), 21-14, 21-16
5) May/Muret (UCLA) def. Weber/Niece (UW), 21-11, 21-17
Exh. Sanchez/Quade (UCLA) def. Petersen/Crenshaw (UW), 21-13, 21-10
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5*, 1, 3