TUCSON, Ariz. – The OUAZ beach volleyball team made history on the first day of the Wildcat Spring Challenge in securing the program's first-ever win over an NCAA Division I opponent. After starting the two-day event with a 5-0 loss against Arizona – the No. 13-ranked team in the NCAA – OUAZ came back to claim 3-2 win over New Mexico for the historic victory.
With the split in the first of their four matches this weekend in Tucson, the Spirit record is now 17-3 on the season with all three losses coming against NCAA DI competition. That includes two losses to ranked teams.
DUAL 1 vs. ARIZONA
The day got off to a tough start for the Spirit as the host Wildcats took a 5-0 win with a sweep in al five pairs.
Viri Serrano and
Andrea Gonzalez pushed the No. 1 match to a 21-18, 21-17 defeat.
In the No. 3 match,
Ashleigh Atsaros and
Alyssa Dincoff fell 21-18, 21-13.
DUAL 2 vs. NEW MEXICO
Determined to snap their three-match losing streak, the Spirit got a big win from
Jessica Youngberg and
Mariah Clausen in the No. 5 pairs (21-15, 17-21, 15-12) to answer the three-set win in the No. 4 match by New Mexico.
OUAZ would take a 2-1 lead in the dual when Serrano and Gonzalez would take the No. 1 match by a score of 21-18, 21-13. The Spirit's No. 2 pair of
Valerie Rodgers and
Mikelle Taylor clinched the team's win with a 21-19, 21-16 victory in their match.
The Lobos would secure the final point of the dual when their No. 3 pair defeated Atsaros and Dincoff 21-19, 21-17.
UP NEXT
The Spirit will bring their inaugural regular season to a close on Saturday with matches against Santa Clara at 9 a.m. and a rematch with New Mexico at 10:30 a.m. at Bear Down Beach.
