TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of San Francisco beach volleyball team (1-3) started the 2024 season on the road, competing at the Cactus Classic with a four-match weekend from Friday, Feb. 23 - Saturday, Feb. 24. The Dons picked up their first win of the season, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory over UTEP on Friday.

Facing Arizona in the morning of Friday, the Dons fell 5-0 before finding success in their afternoon match against UTEP. The green and gold earned their first win of the season, defeating the Miners 3-2. On Saturday morning against Colorado Mesa, San Francisco battled hard but ultimately dropped its match 3-2. Finishing the tournament, the team fell to Boise State 5-0 in the afternoon.
 
DAY ONE
RESULTS VS. ARIZONA     

1. Shannon/Cook (ARIZ) def. Letizia Aquilino/Moorea Wood (USF) 16-21, 21-13, 21-19
2. Russell/McElroy (ARIZ) def McKenna Towne/Jette Morris (USF) 20-14, 21-11
3. Fitzsimmons/Kost (ARIZ) def. Rainie Stevens/Kaydence Stormes 21-15, 21-13
4. Horwath/Phillips (ARIZ) def. Rylie Reeves/Branson Lennon (USF) 21-9, 21-12
5. Zilliken/Erro (ARIZ) def. Francesca Stanschus/Alina Inzuna (USF) 21-12, 21-12 

Order of Finish: 4, 5, 2, 3, 1
 
RESULTS VS. UTEP

1. Aquilino/Wood (USF) def. Paegle/Acuna (UTEP) 19-21, 21-17, 18-16
2. Towne/Morris (USF) def. Hill/McDonough (UTEP) 23-21, 22-20
3. Martin/Ovalle (UTEP) def. Stevens/Stormes (USF) 21-17, 21-18
4. Oporto/Uskokovic (UTEP) def. Reeves/Lennon (USF) 22-20, 21-14
5. Stanschus/Inzuza (USF) def. Popovic/Call (UTEP) 21-15, 18-21, 15-9 

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 1
 
DAY TWO
RESULTS VS. COLORADO MESA

1. Johnson/Ollinger (CMU) def. Aquilino/Wood (USF) 21-14, 21-11
2. Daugherty/Hunt (CMU) def. Towne/Morris (USF) 21-14, 14-21, 15-11
3. Stevens/Stormes (USF) def. Spitzer/Spresser (CMU) 15-21, 24-22, 17-15
4. Reeves/Lennon (USF) def. Bellows/VanDeList (CMU) 21-15, 21-19
5. Ott/Nolan (CMU) def. Stanschus/Inzunza 16-21, 21-13, 17-15 

Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 5, 3
 
RESULTS VS. BOISE STATE

1. Marlayna Bullington/Sierra Land (BSU) def. Aquilino/Wood (USF) 21-17, 21-18
2. Rorianna Chartier/Lily Patock (BSU) def. Towne/Morris (USF) 12-21, 21-10, 17-15
3. Emilia Guerra-Acuna/Ava Anderson (BSU) def. Stevens/Stormes (USF) 21-13, 21-17
4. Mya Jackson/Addison Wolden (BSU) def. Reeves/Lennon (USF) 21-19, 21-19
5. Elli Wolthuis/Sharli O'Neil (BSU) def. Francesca Stanschus/Alina Inzunza (USF) 21-15, 21-14

Order of finish: 1, 5, 3, 4, 2,

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF's beach volleyball team, follow the Dons on Twitter @usfdonsbeachvb and @USFDonsBeach on Instagram.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor – Catholic Charities - 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.