PHOENIX, ARIZ. – The OUAZ beach volleyball team got right back into Golden State Athletic Conference play after defeating another NCAA Division I team and its closest rival on Thursday. The Spirit did not miss a beat, as they took down Marymount California and Hope International to extend its dual win streak to ten.
OUAZ 5, Marymount California 0
Andrea Gonzalez and
Viri Serrano got the first point of the dual in a tightly-contested two set win, 21-17, 21-19.
Valerie Rodgers and
Mikelle Taylor cruised to a 21-12, 21-7 win for OUAZ's second point, then
Abbey Willison and
Katia Dizon clinched the dual in straight sets.
While
Katelyn Viray and
Ashleigh Atsaros did not need to win to clinch the dual victory, they used the opportunity to build confidence as they won 21-13, 21-6 over Mariana Turner and Rylie Rasar.
Isabel Mason and
Mariah Clausen also handled business, winning 21-10, 21-9 for the third straight dual shutout, and fourth in the last five duals.
OUAZ 5, Hope International 0
While the Spirit were unable to continue the dual shutout streak, they were able to secure a convincing win to push its conference record to 5-0. Gonzalez/Serrano lost the first set of their matchup against Measha Lindstrand and Natalie Hadder 19-21, but bounced back to win the final two sets, and the first point of the dual, 21-12, 15-11.
Rodgers/Taylor took the first set of their match 21-10, and while they had more of a challenge in the second set, still secured a straight set victory with a 21-19 second frame. Dizon/Willison clinched the dual for the second time on the afternoon, taking the first set 21-12 before they outlasted Makenna Lumley and Anna Stevenson 22-20 in the second.
Atsaros/Viray defeated Brooke Beresford and Naomi Ruiz 21-15, 21-11, and Mason/Clausen continued their dominant play from the first dual earlier in the day, as they won 21-11, 21-11 over Kyla Kincaid and Emree Sato. The Spirit have now shut out an opponent in four straight duals and the team's match win streak is now up to 20.
It is back to NCAA Division I action for OUAZ, as they will play three opponents in Phoenix next Friday. The Spirit will have duals against Texas A&M – Kingsville (11AM), Grand Canyon (Noon) and Loyola Marymount (4PM).
