MALIBU, Calif. – UTEP Beach Volleyball (8-6, 2-0 Conference USA) competed at the Malibu Invite on Saturday afternoon, taking on host Pepperdine and CSUN at the Pepperdine Beach Courts. Despite hard-fought efforts, the Miners dropped both duals, falling 5-0 to the Waves and 3-2 in a tight battle against CSUN.
Dual 1: PEPP 5, UTEP 0
The Miners pushed the Waves to three sets on courts one and four but ultimately couldn't close them out. Krista Paegle and Paulina Acuna took the first set on court one before falling 12-21, 22-20, 15-12. On court four, Averie Threet and Kennedy Llewellyn battled through a three-set match but came up short, 21-15, 14-21, 15-6. Pepperdine secured the sweep with straight-set victories on the remaining courts.
Results (order of finish: 2,4,5*,3,1)
1. Kate Clermont/McKenna Thomas (PEPP) def. Krista Paegle/Paulina Acuna (UTEP) 12-21, 22-20, 15-12
2. Madison Oriskovich/Gabriella Perez (PEPP) def. Madison Hill/Ema Uskokovic (UTEP) 21-11, 21-16
3. Emma Eden/Ella Foti (PEPP) def. Marian Ovalle/Mila Popovic (UTEP) 21-12, 21-12
4. Emma Bubelis/Marley Johnson (PEPP) def. Averie Threet/Kennedy Llewellyn (UTEP) 21-15, 14-21, 15-6
5. Emi Erickson/Deanie Woodruff (PEPP) def. Emma Schubert/Lauren Perry (UTEP) 21-19, 21-13
Dual 2: CSUN 3, UTEP 2
UTEP rebounded with a strong start against CSUN, jumping out to a 2-0 lead with wins on courts two and four. Madison Hill and Ema Uskokovic defeated Ainsley Patrick and Haley Coggins in a thrilling 21-16, 23-21 match, while Emma Schubert and Lauren Perry claimed a three-set victory on court four (21-17, 18-21, 15-10). However, CSUN responded with wins on courts five and one to even the score. The decisive point came down to court three, where Julia Bazylevych and Tia Mendiola sealed the match for CSUN with a 21-16, 21-17 win over Marian Ovalle and Mila Popovic.
Results (order of finish: 2,4,5,1,3*)
1. Mae, Tasha/Lindhardt, Kinley (CSUN) def. Krista Paegle/Paulina Acuna (UTEP) 24-22, 21-15
2. Madison Hill/Ema Uskokovic (UTEP) def. Patrick, Ainsley/Coggins, Haley (CSUN) 21-16, 23-21
3. Bazylevych, Julia/Mendiola, Tia (CSUN) def. Marian Ovalle/Mila Popovic (UTEP) 21-16, 21-17
4. Emma Schubert/Lauren Perry (UTEP) def. Miles, Maleya/Cederlind, Layla (CSUN) 21-17, 18-21, 15-10
5. Hall, Dylan/Heflin, Hannah (CSUN) def. Kennedy Llewellyn/Averie Threet (UTEP) 21-15, 21-19
Up Next
The Miners head back to Arizona next weekend for the Arizona Invitational in Tucson from March 21-22. UTEP will face Colorado Mesa and Central Arkansas on Friday before squaring off against the host Wildcats on Saturday.
For complete coverage of UTEP Beach Volleyball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at UTEP Beach Volleyball (Facebook), @utepbeachvb (Instagram) and @UTEPBeachVB (Twitter) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
