TUCSON, Ariz. – The Sand Cats went 2-0 in Day 2 of the Cactus Classic, finishing their regular season opener undefeated with a 4-0 record.
Arizona started the day at 10 a.m., sweeping UTEP 5-0. The last time the two teams played each other in 2023, the Wildcats won the matchup 4-1.
The Sand Cats ended the day with a closer competition, defeating Boise St. 3-2, with three of the five matches going to three sets. This victory brought Arizona’s record against the Broncos to 13-0.
On court one, pair Hope Shannon/Grace Cook defeated the Miners in two sets, defeating UTEP’s Krista Paegle/Paulina Acuna 21-14, 21-14. Later in the day, the two found themselves in one of the tournament’s closest contests against Boise State’s Sierra Land/Marlayna Bullington. After losing the first set 17-21, the Wildcats came back to win the second set 21-19, but ultimately fell 12-15 in the third set. The pair went 3-1 in the Cactus Classic.
Abby Russell/Olivia McElroy repeated their powerful performance from Friday, winning both of their matches in two sets. The pair went 2-0 against UTEP’s Madison Hill/Summer McDonough, winning 21-8, 21-16. Against Boise St., the pair won two straight sets yet again, defeating Rorianna Chartier/Lily Patock 21-14, 21-17. Russell and McElroy were undefeated at the Classic.
Arizona’s Kylee Fitzsimmons/Annie Kost took control on court three throughout the day, defeating UTEP 21-13, 21-11. The two played an exciting match against Boise State to close out the Classic, defeating the Broncos’ Emilia Guerra-Acuna/Ava Anderson in a close three sets: 21-15, 15-21, 15-13. The pair came back from a second-set loss and a deficit in the third to emerge victorious. Fitzsimmons and Kost went 3-1 over the course of the weekend.
Jess Horwath/Kate Phillips won their first match against UTEP’s Mila Popovic and Ema Uskokovic 21-19, 21-14. Later in the afternoon, the pair faced Boise State’s Mya Jackson/Addison Wolden in a close competition, winning the first set 21-16, then falling just short in the next two sets 17-21, 7-15. The pair went 3-1 in their first regular season tournament with Arizona.
Pair Miranda Erro/Ashlyn Zilliken had a great second day at…
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