SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – The opening day of the WCC Midseason Tournament did not go the University of San Francisco beach volleyball programs way on Thursday. The Dons, playing their first competition at full strength following the completion of the indoor season, fell to Saint Mary's 2-3 before falling to LMU 5-0 at the Santa Cruz Main Beach.
 
Against the Gaels, USF got victories from the duo of Anna Dalla Vecchia and Greta Corti winning in straight sets 21-17 and 21-15. The Dons' fourth pair of Bruna Correa and Serafina Rivera took their match three sets, ultimately falling in the final set: 14-21, 21-14 and 15-9.
 
Tanner Pemberton and newcomer Catie Cronister fell in one's match, 13-21, 16-21.  Sophie Sydenham and Katie Wagstaff fell 9-21 and 12-21. And Sara Denham and Jessica Eanes lost 12-21 and 6-21 in their beach debut.
 
Later that afternoon, the Dons (0-3) took on the Lions to wrap up the first day.  Unfortunately, USF could not come away with a win. Pemberton and Cronister fell in straight sets 11-21, 15-21. Dalla Vecchia and Corti battled at the twos but also fell in straight sets 15-21, 19-21.
 
The final three matches were not as close with Sydenham and Wagstaff falling 8-21, 8-21.  Correa and Rivera fell 6-21, 9-21 and Denham and Eanes falling 11-21, 6-21.
 
"We were 'process-focused' against Saint Mary's and LMU today," said head coach Frank Lavrisha. "Two very good programs. Dalla Vecchia and Corti, our most experienced pair, won their pairing vs Saint Mary's and competed well vs LMU. We look forward to day two and matchups against Pacific and Santa Clara."
 
RESULTS vs. Saint Mary's
(1) Chandler Cowell/Elena Baka (SMC) def. Catie Cronister/Tanner Pemberton (USF) 21-10, 21-16
(2) Anna Dalla Vecchia/Greta Corti (USF) def. Jasmin Suarez/Sienna Young (SMC) 21-17, 21-15
(3) Jennifer Laird/Morgan Kendrick (SMC) def. Sophie Sydenham/Katie Wagstaff (USF) 21-9, 21-12
(5) Aerial Sundt/Trinity Durfee (SMC def. Sara Denham/Jessica Eanes (USF) 21-12, 21-6
(4) Madison Baumann/Karmin Brown (SMC) def. Bruna Correa/Serafina Rivera (USF) 14-21, 21-14, 15-7
 
RESULTS vs. Loyola Marymount
(1) Iya Lindahl/Megan Rice (LMU) def. Catie Cronister/Tanner Pemberton (USF) 21-11, 21-15
(2) Jesse Prichard/Savannah Slattery (LMU) def. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Greta Corti (USF) 21-15, 21-19
(3) Georgia Fusco/Darby Dunn (LMU) def. Sophie Sydenham/Katie Wagstaff (USF) 21-8, 21-8
(4) Emma Doud/Madi Firnett (LMU) def. Bruna Correa/Serafina Rivera (USF) 21-6, 21-9
(5) Jacinda Ramirez/Cassie Chinn (LMU) def. Sara Denham/Jessica Eanes (USF) 21-11, 21-6
 
NEXT UP
Day two of the WCC Midseason Tournament begins tomorrow with the Dons taking on Pacific at 11:30 a.m. USF will wrap up the tournament taking on rival Santa Clara at 2:00 p.m.