Utah Beach Volleyball Drops Pair of Matches To Close Out Week In California

Friday, March 10

Moraga, CA

10:00 AM

University of Utah

Saint Mary's (California)

Photo by: Steve FitzGerald

Utah Beach Volleyball Drops Pair of Matches To Close Out Week In California

3/10/2023 4:50 PM | Beach Volleyball

MORAGA, Calif. – Utah Beach Volleyball wrapped up its week-long trip in California with a pair of matches on Friday. The Utes dropped a heartbreaker 3-2 to Saint Mary's before falling 4-1 against UC Davis to close out play.

Utah 2, Saint Mary's 3
Utah started the day with tight matches against Saint Mary's on the road, and a win on court three from Abby Karich and Bella Vezzani evened the dual match score 1-1 after the Gaels managed to squeeze out a three-set win on court two to begin the match. In another three-set battle, Sonja Wessel and Savannah Cottam pushed Utah ahead in the match after bouncing back from their first set loss. Wessel and Cottam won 21-17 in the second set before taking a 15-11 win, giving Utah a 2-1 lead.

Saint Mary's managed to counter the point and put the pressure on court four after the Gael's top duo won 21-10, 21-19 over Amaya Messier and Katie McAlister. On court four, the tight matches continued as Kylie Pitzak and Sydney Jacinto found themselves in another three-set match. Pitzak and Jacinto won the opening set 21-19, but dropped a narrow 21-18 second set. In the third, the Ute duo couldn't overcome a late deficit and fell 15-9 to see Saint Mary's take the match 3-2.

Utah 1, UC Davis 4
The second match of the day began in an early 1-0 hole for the Utes after UC Davis was able to take the win in straight sets on court five. Karich and Vezzani got off to a slow start on court three, but turned the momentum with a dominant 21-6 win in the second set to force a third. In the third set, Vezzani and Karich dropped a narrow 15-13 frame to set the Utes back 2-0.

UC Davis clinched the match on court four with a 22-20, 21-15 win over Pitzak and Jacinto. Later on, Messier and McAlister battled on the top court and despite dropping the first set, the Ute duo bounced back for a 21-18, 16-14 win in the following sets to get Utah on the board. UC Davis closed out the match with a win on court two to win the match 4-1.

Utah Beach Volleyball returns to action next Friday and Saturday, March 17-18, in Long Beach, Calif. The Utes are set to play CSUN and Stetson on Friday, while they will close out the weekend against Texas and Long Beach State.

Utah 2, Saint Mary's 3
1. Hawley Harrer/Daniella Kensinger (SMC) def. Amaya Messier/Katie McAlister (UU) 21-10, 21-19
2. Karmin Brown/Hannah Couch (SMC) def. Grace Andrews/Marissa Koch (UU) 17-21, 21-13, 15-7
3. Abby Karich/Bella Vezzani (UU) def. Genevieve Bane/Paola Peralta (SMC) 21-12, 21-16
4. Sadie Shipman/Allie Cataldo (SMC) def. Kylie Pitzak/Sydney Jacinto (UU) 19-21, 21-18, 15-9
5. Sonja Wessel/Savannah Cottam (UU) def. Angie Bour/Hailee Garcia (SMC) 14-21, 21-17, 15-11
Exh. Chloe Narancich/Azure McOmber (UU) def. Grace Travis/Cameron Martinez (SMC) 13-21, 21-14, 15-12
Order of finish: 2,3,5,1,4

Utah 1, UC Davis 4
1. Amaya Messier/Katie McAlister (UU) def. Tabitha Mitchell/Finley Rollins (UCD) 16-21, 21-18, 16-14
2. Colleen McGuire//Kylie Miller (UCD) def. Grace Andrews/Marissa Koch (UU) 21-12, 21-12
3. Mia Olen/Megan Luly (UCD) def. Abby Karich/Bella Vezzani (UU) 21-13, 6-21, 15-13
4. Morgan Coolbaugh/Sam Lazenby (UCD) def. Kylie Pitzak/Sydney Jacinto (UU) 22-20, 21-15
5. Sydney Rau-Kim/Alicia Letvin (UCD) def. Sonja Wessel/Savannah Cottam (UU) 21-7, 22-20
Exh. Emma Johnson/Julia Bodor (UCD) def. Chloe Narancich/Azure McOmber (UU) 21-18, 24-22
Order of finish: 5,3,4,1,2