TUCSON, Ariz. - The UTEP Beach Volleyball team kicked off their season with a bang as they opened their campaign at Bear Down Beach. The day saw a thrilling victory against Colorado Mesa, 3-2, but the Miners faced a tough challenge in the second match, narrowly losing 2-3 to San Francisco.
Despite the split, standout performances illuminated UTEP's resilience. The dynamic duo of Katie Martin and Marian Ovalle, representing the 3's pair, went 2-0 on the day. Additionally, the formidable 4's pair of Sophia Sheppard and Ema Uskokovic mirrored their success, securing two wins that contributed to the team's strong showing.
"We faced a tough challenge tonight with a couple of closely contested matches that didn't swing in our favor, but we're immensely proud of the progress we're witnessing from our group," head coach Ben Wallis said. "Reflecting on where we were just a year ago, starting a brand-new program, we now appear more in control of our objectives. While there were some successful moments, and we are just a few execution details away from being a truly formidable beach team, the learning experience here is invaluable."
Match 1: UTEP 3, CMU 2
In an intense matchup, the Miners showcased their determination on various courts against Colorado Mesa. On court 2, Madison Hill and Summer McDonough put the team on the board after rallying from an early set two deficit to secure a decisive 2-0 victory. The momentum swung back and forth as CMU evened the match with a win on court 1 against UTEP's Krista Paegle and Paulina Acuna. The 3's pair, Katie Martin and Marian Ovalle, delivered a stellar performance, overcoming a first-set deficit to sweep the Mavs, giving UTEP a 2-1 advantage. Meanwhile, Sophia Sheppard and Ema Uskokovic on court 4 engaged in a competitive battle, ultimately clinching the match for the Miners with their 2-1 finish. The intensity continued to court 5, where Mila Popovic and Katie Call fought valiantly, forcing a deciding set after dropping the first and dominating the second. However, a tightly contested third set ultimately favored the Mavericks.
Results (Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3, 4*, 5)
1) Johnson/Ollinger (CMU) def. Paegle/Acuna (UTEP) 21-14, 21-18
2) McDonough/Hill (UTEP) def. Spitzer/Spresser (CMU) 21-17, 21-15
3) Martin/Ovalle (UTEP) def. Hunt/Daugherty (CMU) 22-20, 21-18
4) Uskokovic/Sheppard (UTEP) def. VanDeList/Bellows (CMU) 21-17, 25-27, 15-11
5) Ott/Nolan (CMU) def. Popovic/Call (UTEP) 21-13, 15-21, 19-17
Match 2: USF 3, UTEP 2
In a nail-biting series of matches, UTEP's Sheppard and Uskokovic on court 4 set the tone by going 2-0 and securing UTEP's first point of the day. On court 2, Hill and McDonough faced a tough challenge, splitting the day after dropping two closely contested sets in extras against the Dons. Martin and Ovalle continued their impressive form, sweeping their competition 2-0 on court 3. Court 5 witnessed another intense battle as Popovic and Call went to three sets, with the Dons ultimately evening out the match at 2-2. The 1's pair, Paegle and Acuna, won the first set but faced a setback in the second, leading to a thrilling third set. The teams went back and forth, but the Dons secured a hard-fought victory, clinching the overall match with a final score of 18-16.
Results (Order of Finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 1*)
1) Aquilino/Wood (USF) def. Paegle/Acuna (UTEP) 18-21, 21-17, 18-16
2) Towne/Morris (USF) def. (McDonough/Hill (UTEP) 23-21, 22-20
3) Martin/Ovalle (UTEP) def. Stevens/Stormes (USF) 21-17, 21-18
4) Uskokovic/Sheppard (UTEP) def. Reeves/Lennon (USF) 22-20, 21-14
5) Stanschus/Inzunza (USF) def. Popovic/Call (UTEP) 21-15, 18-21, 15-9
"Tomorrow, we confront a formidable Arizona team, and we need to rest up and refocus to ensure we bring our best game," Wallis said. "Following that, we take on Bakersfield, and we're confident in giving ourselves opportunities for victory. The growth within our team is evident, and it's gratifying to witness the hard work in the weight room and off-season paying off. Unfortunately, tonight, we fell short in execution during critical moments, costing us a victory. Yet, I'm particularly proud of Ema and Sophie, as well as Katie and Marian, for securing two wins today."
UP NEXT
The Miners will take on (RV) Arizona State at 10 a.m. and CSU Bakersfield at 1 p.m. MT on day two of the Cactus Classic.
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