TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of San Francisco beach volleyball team saw improved play Saturday on the final day of the Cactus Classic at the University of Arizona, falling 5-0 to Missouri State and taking a pairs match from No. 20 Arizona State in a 4-1 defeat at Bear Down Beach.
 
Two of the Dons' (0-4) pairs went to three sets in their morning match versus Missouri State (2-2). Tanner Pemberton and Sophie Sydenham won their first set versus MSU's Siena Brewster and Parker McAllen, 21-18, at the No. 4 pairs. But Brewster and McAllen came back to win, 2-1, with 21-14 and 15-10 wins in the second and third sets. Trish Koutsoukos and Katie Wagstaff also won their first set at the 5s spot, beating Pamela Jaime and Tory Penick, 21-19. Jaime and Penick came back to win sets two and three, 21-9 and 15-8.
 
The Dons were even more competitive in the afternoon against the No. 20 team in the country, Arizona State. USF's No. 1 pair of Anna Dalla Vecchia and Laurie McGrath swept the Sun Devils' top duo of Emily Anderson and Allyson Eylers, 21-14, 21-15, to give USF an early 1-0 lead. The Dons' No. 2 pair of Lauren Speckman and Emily Zinger also pushed the Sun Devils, going three sets against ASU's Katelyn Carballo and Samantha Plaster.
 
"Better competition day, overall, for the Dons," said USF head coach Frank Lavrisha. "The highlight was Dalla Vecchia/McGrath winning versus Arizona State's 1s pair in two sets. They controlled play throughout the match, getting McGrath her first collegiate win.
 
"Dalla Vecchia is returning to her all-WCC form while tutoring the newcomer McGrath.
Speckman and Zinger played their best match of the tourney, taking ASU's 2s pair to three sets. Zinger was dominant at the net while Speckman steadied the duo with her ball control.
Koutsoukos and Wagstaff also took their Missouri State opponent to three sets highlighting their weekend. Pemberton and Sydenham were competitive through all four of their matches.
 
San Francisco returns to the Bay Area for two matches on Saturday hosted by San Jose State, playing Feather River College and the Spartans.
 
Missouri State 5, San Francisco 0
Bear Down Beach – Tucson, Ariz.
Feb. 22, 2020
 
1. Kelsey Larsen/Alaina Tinsley (MSU) def. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Laurie McGrath (USF), 21-18, 21-17
2. Kendra Sater/Chloe Tome (MSU) def. Lauren Speckman/Emily Zinger (USF), 21-15, 21-9
3. Grace Cook/Rachel Tam (MSU) def. Shannon Levinson/Ella Reames (USF), 21-12, 21-12
4. Siena Brewster/Parker McAllen (MSU) def. Tanner Pemberton/Sophie Sydenham (USF), 18-21, 21-14, 15-10
5. Pamela Jaime/Tory Penick (MSU) def. Trish Koutsoukos/Katie Wagstaff (USF), 19-21, 21-9, 15-8
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1, 5, 4
 
#20 Arizona State 4, San Francisco 1
Bear Down Beach – Tucson, Ariz.
Feb. 22, 2020
 
1. Dalla Vecchia/McGrath def. Emily Anderson/Allyson Eylers (ASU), 21-14, 21-15
2. Katelyn Carballo/Samantha Plaster (ASU) def. Speckman/Zinger, 21-5, 12-21, 15-10
3. Ellyson Lundberg/Maddy Salazar (ASU) def. Levinson/Reames, 21-13, 21-12
4. Cierra Flood/Lauren Weintraub (ASU) def. Pemberton/Sydenham, 21-17, 21-13
5. Kate Baldwin/Lexi Sweeney (ASU) def. Koutsoukos/Wagstaff, 21-8, 21-8
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 5, 2