BeachBows Split To Open Up Big West Challenge

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The No. 17 University of Hawai'i beach volleyball team opened the three-day Big West Challenge by splitting a pair of matches. The Rainbow Wahine (7-11) blanked UC Davis, 5-0, before falling to host and No. 6 Cal Poly, Friday at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex.

In the first match of the day, the BeachBows halted a three-match slide with a decisive 5-0 win over UC Davis. It marked UH's third sweep of the season. UH won courts 1, 2 and 5 in straight sets to lock up the win. The BeachBows secured the sweep with a pair of three-set wins at the final two flights. UH entered the week just 3-15 in three-set matches, but UH won a pair of those including wins by Jesse Mann and Jasmine Wandeler at court 3 and Sydney Amiatu and Sydney Miller at court 4 with both coming back from being a set down. The 'Bows have now won 11 of 12 all-time meetings between the teams.

UH then took on host Cal Poly in a rare evening beach match under the lights. The 'Bows were competitive early on, taking the first set on two courts, while falling by just two points at the top flight. But the No. 6 Mustangs turned it up a notch, winning the final seven sets of the dual to complete the shutout. The No. 3 pair of Sarah Burton and Caprice Lorenzo and the No. 5 pair of Amiatu and Miller, both playing at the respective flights for the first time, went to three sets, but could close the potential points for UH. In the end the Mustangs defeated the BeachBows for the third straight time and the second straight year by shutout fashion in the Big West Challenge.

Day two of the three-day Big West Challenge continues Saturday with the 'Bows taking on Cal State Bakersfield (8:30 a.m. HT) and Sacramento State (12:15 p.m.).

Hawai'i 5 UC Davis 0
1. Alana Embry/Julia Lawrenz (UH) def. Tabitha Mitchell/Kylie Miller (UCD) 21-19, 21-18
2. Lorenzo/Burton(UH) def. Lindsay Heller/Kendal Steller 21-16, 21-16
3. Mann/Wandeler (UH) def. Alexandra Leal/Kate O'Steen (UCD) 20-22, 21-11, 15-7
4. Amiatu/Miller def. Skye Smolinski/Mia Olen (UCD) 16-21, 21-19, 15-13
5. Kristen Serrano/Sophie Buschmann (UH) def. Juliana Chapman/Ava Berard (UCD) 21-18, 21-18
Order of finish: 2, 5, 1, 3, 4

Cal Poly 5 Hawai'i 0
1. Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) def. Embry/Lawrenz (UH) 21-19, 21-12
2. Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter def. Mann/Wandeler (UH) 21-12, 21-14
3. Madi Nichols/Ella Connor (CP) def. Lorenzo/Burton (UH) 16-21, 21-14, 15-12
4. Quinn Perry/Maddy Byrne (CP) def. Serrano/Buschmann (UH) 21-12, 21-17
5. Elise Lenahan/Abbey Reinard (CP) def. Amiatu/Miller (UH) 17-21, 21-14, 15-4
Order of finish: 2, 4, 1, 5, 3

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Players Mentioned

#14 Sydney Amiatu: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#21 Sarah Burton: 6' 0"; Junior

#44 Sophie Buschmann: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#8 Alana Embry: 5' 9"; Junior

#3 Julia Lawrenz: 6' 1"; Junior

#24 Caprice Lorenzo: 5' 9"; Junior

#9 Jesse Mann: 5' 11"; Junior

#11 Sydney Miller: 6' 0"; Junior

#0 Kristen Serrano: 5' 9"; Junior

#12 Jasmine Wandeler: 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#14 Sydney Amiatu
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#21 Sarah Burton
: 6' 0"; Junior

#44 Sophie Buschmann
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#8 Alana Embry
: 5' 9"; Junior

#3 Julia Lawrenz
: 6' 1"; Junior

#24 Caprice Lorenzo
: 5' 9"; Junior

#9 Jesse Mann
: 5' 11"; Junior

#11 Sydney Miller
: 6' 0"; Junior

#0 Kristen Serrano
: 5' 9"; Junior

#12 Jasmine Wandeler
: 6' 1"; Freshman