SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- Wrapping up their time in Santa Cruz this weekend, the USF Dons beach volleyball team (1-16) picked up their first victory of the season as they defeated the Pacific Tigers (0-12) by a 4-1 final score and came up just short to the Portland Pilots (5-8) by a 3-2 final on Sunday afternoon on the Santa Cruz beaches. 

USF then returned to action the next day to face off with the Stanford Cardinal (13-6) in a team match they dropped 5-0 prior to facing off with the San José State Spartans (9-6) in a narrow 3-2 loss to wrap up the action on Monday from Stanford.

The Dons battled hard to pick up their first win of the season as three of the four USF pairings were able to secure individual wins in their matches to best the Tigers on Sunday afternoon. 

RESULTS:
vs. Pilots: 
1. (USF) McKenna Towne/Letizia Aquilino def. POR) Alina Valenti/Annika Stramberger (21-18, 21-14)
2. (POR) Noelani Helm/Jayde Harris def. (USF) Branson Lennon/Claire Crijns (21-13, 21-16)
3. (USF) Rainie Stevens/Francesca Stanschus def. (POR) Grace Zilbert/Brodie Baker (24-22, 21-17)
4. (POR) Taylor Helle/Elin Larsson def. (USF) Jolie Gutierrez/Anna Petrova (22-20, 21-18, 15-10)
5. (POR) Keilani Mumolo/Sophie Lee def. (USF) Isadora Nicolai/Sophia Solomon (21-15, 21-19)

vs. Tigers:
1. (USF) McKenna Towne/Letizia Aquilino def. (PAC) Jenny Todd/Hania Taduran (23-21, 21-16)
2. (USF) Branson Lennon/Claire Crijns def. (PAC) Sedona Sherman/Josephine Kinlan (24-22, 21-10)
3. (PAC) Camdyn Albrecht/Jillian Rodig def. (USF) Francesca Stanschus/Rainie Stevens (17-21, 30-28, 15-12)
4. (USF) Jolie Gutierrez/Anna Petrova def. (PAC) Jewel Turner/Joli Ruby (21-11, 21-15)
5. USF wins, 21-0, 21-0 (forfeit)

vs. Cardinal:
1. (STAN) Xolani Hodel/Maddi Kriz def. (USF) McKenna Towne/Letizia Aquilino (21-16, 21-5)
2. (STAN) Charlie Ekstrom/Kate Reilly def. (USF) Branson Lennon/Claire Crijns (21-13, 21-18)
3. (STAN) Maya Harvey/Ashley Vincent def. (USF) Francesca Stanschus/Rainie Stevens (21-17, 21-9)
4. (STAN) Emmy Sharp/Taylor Wilson def. (USF) Jolie Gutierrez/Anna Petrova (21-16, 21-10)
5. (STAN) Abby Converse/Ellie Gamberdella def. (USF) Sophia Solomon/Isadora Nicolai (21-19, 21-18)

vs. Spartans: 
1. (SJSU) Jaida Ward/Cheyenne Rice def. (USF) McKenna Towne/Letizia Aquilino (26-24, 21-16)
2. (SJSU) Siena Brewster/Amethyst Harper def. (USF) Branson Lennon/Claire Crijns (21-12, 21-16)
3. (USF) Francesca Stanschus/Rainie Stevens def. (SJSU) Tessa Rogers/Nayeli Tia (16-21, 21-19, 15-13)
4. (USF) Jolie Gutierrez/Anna Petrova def. (SJSU) Teila Allen/Blaire Fleming (21-19, 21-13)
5. (SJSU) Anna Salmon/Meredith Scott def. (USF) Sophia Solomon/Isadora Nicolai (21-17, 18-21, 17-15)

UP NEXT:
The Dons now turn their attention to this week's matches on the road as they will head to Southern California to compete at the 2023 CSUN Tournament where they're set to face the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (11-6) and the CSUN Matadors (10-11) on Thursday and Friday March 30-31, 2023 from Northridge. 

​​FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF's beach volleyball team, follow the Dons on Twitter @usfdonsbeachvb and @USFDonsBeach on Instagram.

SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge our department sponsor – Toyota - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.