TUCSON, Ariz.—The Arizona Beach Volleyball team will travel to Malibu to compete in teh Malibu Invite on March 1-2. The Sand Cats are ranked No. 20 in this week’s AVCA Collegiate Beach Coaches Poll and carry momentum from their undefeated opening weekend at the Cactus Classic.
Arizona went 4-0 at the Classic, defeating San Francisco (5-0), UTEP (5-0), CSU Bakersfield (4-1) and Boise State (3-2). The Wildcats will face a rematch against the Broncos on Friday and will also play Vanguard and Pepperdine.
Malibu Invite Match Ups
Vanguard– The Wildcats have only faced the Lions once before but won, 5-0, in their 2019 matchup.
Pepperdine– The Wildcats have an overall record of 2-4 against Pepperdine but have won their last two meetings with the Waves. Last season, the Wildcats defeated Pepperdine, 3-2, at the Malibu Invite.
Boise State– Following their matchup in the Cactus Classic last week, Arizona is now 13-0 against the Broncos. The Feb. 24 match, from which the Wildcats emerged victorious, was a close one; the Sand Cats defeated the Broncos 3-2, with three of the five matches going to three sets.
Malibu Invite full match schedule:
Friday, March 1:
MATCH 1– Pepperdine vs. Boise State (9:00 a.m. PT)
MATCH 2– Arizona vs. Vanguard (11:00 a.m.)
MATCH 3– Pepperdine vs. San Francisco (1:00 p.m.)
MATCH 4– Arizona vs. Boise St. (3:00 p.m.)
Saturday, March 2:
MATCH 1– Pepperdine vs. Arizona (8:00 a.m.)
MATCH 2– Boise State vs. San Francisco (10:00 a.m.)
MATCH 3– San Francisco vs. Vanguard (12:00 p.m.)
MATCH 4– Boise State vs. Vanguard (2:00 p.m.)
Fans can follow along with live stats for each of the tournament’s matches.
NOTING THE WILDCATS
Steve Walker is in his 11th season as the head coach for the Wildcats. Walker has a career record of 180-82 (.687) at Arizona. Named the 2016 Pac-12 Beach Volleyball Coach of the Year, Walker led Arizona to the first NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship in 2016.
Hope Shannon is 53-30 in her career at Arizona, ranking 13th in Arizona Beach Volleyball history for career wins. Last weekend at the Cactus Classic, Shannon went 3-1 with partner Grace Cook at No. 1.
Grace Cook joined the Wildcats in 2023 after transferring from Missouri St., where she was the all-time individual career wins leader with 39. In her career at…
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