KINGSVILLE, Texas – Utah Beach Volleyball split its first two matches of the 2023 season on Friday, sweeping East Texas Baptist 5-0 before falling in a tight battle against Louisiana-Monroe. The Utes earned straight-set wins on every court aginst East Texas Baptist, while the loss in the final match of the day saw four courts go to third sets.
Utah 5, East Texas Baptist 0
The Utes earned a win over East Texas Baptist in Kingsville, Texas, at the Javelina Beach Volleyball Courts on Friday morning. The Utes won 5-0 with Kylie Pitzak and Sydney Jacinto winning first on court four against Riley Reneau and Shelby Freudensprung by a dominant score of 21-3 and 21-6. Finishing second on court one was Amaya Messier and Katie McAlister, winning 21-13, and 21-9 for Utah’s second dual point.
Other team members Marissa Koch and Abby Karich clinched the victory with a 21-16, 21-10 win on court three. Following suit was Grace Andrews and Bella Vezzani (21-13, 21-11) at the No. 2 pair and finishing the clean sweep was Savannah Cottom and Sonja Wessel (21-14, 21-10) at the fifth position.
Utah 1, Louisiana Monroe 4
The Utes took a 4-1 loss against Louisiana-Monroe to wrap up the opening day in Texas. During the third set, Wessel and Cottam defeated Kaitlyn Beck and Kaylie Beck 21-18, 20-22, 15-12 in the three-set battle. Courts two and three also picked up the first set to take an early lead, but ultimately went to three sets after dropping the second. Utah battled back from a deficit on court one as well to force a third set. In the third sets, Koch/Karich and Andrews/Vezzani fell 15-12 and 15-9, respectively, while Messier/McAlister dropped their third set 15-11. Louisiana-Monroe earned its first point on court four.
The Utes begin the final day of competition in Texas at 9 a.m. MT against Corban before closing out the opening weekend against Texas A&M-Kingsville at 11:15 a.m. MT. Live results will be available here.
Utah 5, East Texas Baptist 0
1. Amaya Messier/Katie McAlister (UTAH) def. Ashely Salas/Annika Demuth (ETBU) 21-13, 21-9
2. Grace Andrews/Bella Vezzani (UTAH) def. Madison McDonald/Hope Shipp (ETBU) 21-13, 21-11
3. Marissa Koch/Abby Karich (UTAH) def. Nadia Brockway/Mollee McCurley (ETBU) 21-16, 21-10
4. Kylie Pitzak/Sydney Jacinto (UTAH) def. Riley Reneau/Shelby Freudensprung (ETBU) 21-3, 21-6
5.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Utah Athletics…