BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The 16-match undefeated streak to start the program's history for the OUAZ beach volleyball team came to an end on Saturday with a pair of losses against NCAA DI teams. The day began with a tight 3-2 loss against CSU Bakersfield and ended with the Spirit falling to Loyola Marymount – the 13th-ranked team in the NCAA – by a 5-0 score.
In the Bakersfield match, the Spirit had chances to pull the upset. Trailing 1-0 when CSUB won the No. 4 match, OUAZ was able to pull even at 1-1 when
Valerie Rodgers and
Mikelle Taylor earned a 21-18, 21-18 win in the No. 2 match.
The No. 5 match ended next with
Jessica Youngberg and
Mariah Clausen falling 20-22, 11-21. Needing a win to stay alive,
Ashleigh Atsaros and
Alyssa Dincoff fell just short in the No. 3 match by scores of 23-25, 17-21.
OUAZ would score a second point with a 21-18, 16-21, 15-11 win from
Andrea Gonzalez and
Viri Serrano in the No. 1 match.
Loyola Marymount presented a tougher challenge for the Spirit in winning all five points and sweeping four of the duals. Atsaros and Dincoff pushed the No. 3 dual to the third set before falling 21-19, 9-21, 4-15.
Gonzalez and Serrano kept the No. 1 match close in a 21-17, 21-14 defeat. Youngberg and Clausen fell in the No. 5 match 21-12, 21-13.
The Spirit have four more NCAA DI teams on the agenda next weekend when they head to Tucson to compete at the University of Arizona Tournament.
