Mesa, Ariz. — The No. 1-ranked and top-seeded OUAZ Beach Volleyball team saw its GSAC Championship run come to an end Friday morning, falling 3-2 to No. 10 Arizona Christian in a tightly contested semifinal elimination match at the Arizona Athletic Grounds.
The dual came down to the final points, with both teams trading wins throughout the lineup. Olga Romero and Shayna Martinez delivered a key point for the Spirit with a strong performance in their pairing, while Mariella Ramos and Gabriela Corrales added another victory to keep OUAZ within striking distance.
Arizona Christian secured wins in the No. 1, No. 3, and No. 4 flights to claim the narrow 3-2 team victory and eliminate the Spirit from the tournament.
Despite the loss, OUAZ put together an impressive season as the nation's top-ranked team and GSAC regular season champion. The Spirit will now await their postseason fate, as the NAIA National Committee will determine at-large selections for the NAIA National Invitational Tournament.
