University of San Francisco Athletics

FOLSOM, Calif. — The San Francisco beach volleyball team played two competitive matches Friday at the Sacramento State Beach Volleyball Tournament, narrowly falling to the host Hornets, 3-2, while staying close in numerous sets during a 5-0 setback versus No. 17/19 Saint Mary's.
 
The Dons (7-6) took two pairs from the Hornets (1-4) and nearly took the deciding third at the No. 5 pairs, but Sacramento State's Paige Calvin and Sarah Falk outlasted USF's Kate Ashman and Tanner Shayne Pemberton. Ashman and Pemberton won the second set, 21-19, to force a deciding third frame, and it took extra points to decide, but it was Calvin and Falk who barely came out on top, 16-14, in the third.
 
Anna Dalla Vecchia and Carly Lowry made easy work of the Hornets' No. 1 pair of Ashtin Olin and Skyler Takeda, beating them in straight sets, 21-12 and 21-11. Madelyn LaFollette and Emily Zinger were also winners in three sets at the No. 4 pairs, beating Sacramento State's Cianna Andrews and McKenna Smith, 21-17, 16-21 and 15-8 in the deciding third set.
 
Pemberton teamed with Lena Bondar in the Saint Mary's match to push the Gaels' freshman pair of Selbie Christensen and Chandler Cowell to three sets. The Gaels duo came had to come from behind after Bondar and Pemberton won the first set, 21-14, as Christensen and Cowell won the second by an identical 21-14 score, then won the third, 15-11.
 
Though SMC swept the No. 1 through 4 pairs, San Francisco did not go quietly. The Dons challenged the nationally ranked Gaels, staying within six points in four of the eight sets played at those pairs. Dalla Vecchia and Lowry played the closest at No. 1 pairs, falling to Saint Mary's top pair of Sarah Chase and Lindsey Knudsen, 21-13, 21-18.
 
The Dons will face San Jose State at noon on Saturday for the second time this season to conclude play at the Sacramento State Beach Volleyball Tournament. The Dons fell to the Spartans, 4-1, in the season opener on Feb. 22.
 
Sacramento State 3, San Francisco 2
Livermore Community Park – Folsom, Calif.
March 15, 2019
 
1. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Carly Lowry (USF) def. Ashtin Olin/Skyler Takeda (SAC), 21-12, 21-11
2. Sarah Davis/Mikaela Nocetti (SAC) def. Camille Araujo/Victoria Rogers (USF), 21-18, 21-11
3. Macey Hayden/Paige Swinney (SAC) def. Moana To'oto'o/Ella Reames (USF), 21-15, 22-20
4. Madelyn LaFollette/Emily Zinger (USF) def. Cianna Andrews/McKenna Smith (SAC), 21-17, 16-21, 15-8
5. Paige Calvin/Sarah Falk (SAC) def. Kate Ashman/Tanner Shayne Pemberton (USF), 21-18, 19-21, 16-14
 
#17/19 Saint Mary's 5, San Francisco 0
Livermore Community Park – Folsom, Calif.
March 15, 2019
 
1. Sarah Chase/Lindsey Knudsen (SMC) def. Dalla Vecchia/Lowry (USF), 21-13, 21-18
2. Emily Bible/Lindsey Calvin (SMC) def. Reames/To'oto'o (USF), 21-15, 21-12
3. Alexsa "Crash" Parker/Sienna Young (SMC) def. Araujo/Rogers (USF), 21-10, 21-16
4. Morgan Kendrick/Jennifer "Boo" Laird (SMC) def. LaFollette/Zinger (USF), 21-16, 21-11
5. Selbie Christensen/Chandler Cowell (SMC) def. Lena Bondar/Pemberton (USF), 14-21, 21-14, 15-11