MESA, Ariz. – Hope International lost a pair of tightly contested beach volleyball contests at the Arizona Athletic Grounds on Wednesday, succumbing 3-2 to No. 10 Benedictine Mesa and 4-1 to No. 1 OUAZ.
On the day, the Royals lost three matches and four in total that went to a third set.
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No. 10 Benedictine Mesa 3, No. 7 Hope International 2
The Royals lost close battles at the twos, threes and fours – all going to three sets – while getting wins at the other two positions.
Amaya Evans and Nichole Gary defeated Manaia Mamea and Kyla Dothard at the twos, prevailing 21-23, 21-18, 15-13 as the Redhawks took a 1-0 lead.Â
BENU grabbed a 2-0 lead with another win at No. 4. The Redhawks again lost the first set but took the next two, as Ella Burton and Isabella Garey triumphed 17-21, 21-14, 15-11 against Rita Nua and Cozette Zimmermann.
The Royals got on the board with strong play at the fives, where Macy Thornburg and Phoebe Sebby dominated in a 21-12, 21-10 decision over Bailey Prieto and Janae Moore.
But for the third time in the match, BENU rebounded from a first set loss to gain the point. At the threes, Daisy Motes and Izabella Duchaine overcame a deficit, knocking off Maci Hendry and Carmelina Infante 20-22, 21-13, 15-5.
With the result already decided, the two teams played out the match on the one line. HIU's Bryce Swain and Sabrina Galassi upended Taylor Erickson and Sophie Drollinger by 22-20, 21-19 scores.
No. 1 OUAZ 4, No. 7 Hope International 1
OUAZ supported its lofty ranking with three straight set victories.
Shayna Martinez and Railey Dykstra earned a 21-17, 21-7 win at the twos over Lole Mamea and Dothard, followed by Mariella Ramos and Gabriela Corrales posting a 21-18, 21-14 decision over Nua and Zimmermann at the No. 4 pairing.
The Spirit clinched the match victory at the threes, as Olga Romero and Shea Marovich cruised to a 21-7, 21-13 victory over Hendry and Infante.
HIU's Swain and Galassi took the first set against Eliana Dean and Maya Blake, but dropped the 17-21, 21-19, 16-14 contest in a tight battle atop the ladder.
The Royals avoided the sweep as the fives pairing of Thornburg and Sebby knocked off Alicia Romero and Katy Shockey, 11-21, 21-19, 15-8.
HIU continues GSAC round robin play at the Arizona Athletic Grounds on Thursday, meeting Arizona Christian at 10:00 a.m. and host Park Gilbert at noon.
