TUCSON, Ariz. – On the first day of the 2023 season, the 18th ranked Arizona beach volleyball team posted a pair of 5-0 sweeps against UTEP and Oregon at the Cactus Classic in the sand at Bear Down Beach.
Two seniors at the No. 1 pairs position – Alex Parkhurst and Sarah Blacker – led the way for Arizona (2-0) with two straight set victories. For Blacker, they were career wins 77 and 78 as she pursues the Arizona career wins record of 86.
The duo of Hope Shannon and Abby Russell needed three sets in both of their matches on the day, but came out victorious in both at the No. 2 pairs spot. At the third pairs spot, Alana Rennie and Grace Cook were dominant in their two wins, holding their opponents under 10 points in two of the four sets.
Kylee Fitzsimmons and Caroline White took care of business at No. 4 pair, as did Annie Kost and Miranda Erro in the fifth spot.
Arizona will be back in action for two more matches on Saturday at Bear Down Beach, starting at 11:00 a.m. against Colorado Mesa followed by a 2:00 p.m. matchup with Boise State.
#18 Arizona – 5, UTEP – 0
Court 1: Alex Parkhurst/Sarah Blacker (ARIZ) def. Krista Paegle/Katie Martin (UTEP), 21-19, 21-19
Court 2: Hope Shannon/Abby Russell (ARIZ) def. Sara Pustahija/Ema Uskokovic (UTEP), 21-10, 21-18, 15-6
Court 3: Alana Rennie/Grace Cook (ARIZ) def. Aaliyah Austin/Paulina Acuna (UTEP), 21-9, 21-12
Court 4: Kylee Fitzsimmons/Caroline White (ARIZ) def. Savannah Marenco/Serena Patterson (UTEP), 21-18, 21-12
Court 5: Annie Kost/Miranda Erro (ARIZ) def. Madison Hill/Marian Ovalle (UTEP), 21-10, 21-14
Order of finish: 3,5,4,1,2
#18 Arizona – 5, Oregon – 0
Court 1: Alex Parkhurst/Sarah Blacker (ARIZ) def. Chloe Brown/Zoe Almanza (UO), 21-14, 22-20
Court 2: Hope Shannon/Abby Russell (ARIZ) def. Bea Wetton/Ella Tyus (UO), 21-17, 18-21, 23-21
Court 3: Alana Rennie/Grace Cook (ARIZ) def. Abby Pelvin/Batia Rotshtein (UO), 21-16, 21-6
Court 4: Kylee Fitzsimmons/Caroline White (ARIZ) def. Ashley Schroeder/Natasha George (UO), 21-14, 21-14
Court 5: Annie Kost/Miranda Erro (ARIZ) def. Lolo Folau/Valerie Peterson (UO), 21-13, 21-16
Order of finish: 4,2,3,5,1
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