TUCSON, Arizona – UTEP beach volleyball (2-4) dropped a pair of matches to nationally ranked competition on Friday, falling 5-0 to No. 20 Arizona and 5-0 to No. 17 Grand Canyon on day one of the Cactus Classic at Bear Down Beach.

Despite the final scores, the Miners battled throughout the day, highlighted by multiple three-set contests against strong opposition.

Dual 1 No. 20 Arizona 5, UTEP 0

The closest contest came at the No. 1 position, where Paulina Acuna and Madison Hill pushed their match to a decisive third set before falling 21-13, 30-32, 15-12. The Miners claimed the second set in extra points to extend the dual, but the Wildcats secured the team victory with wins across the remaining courts.

Results (order of finish: 3,2,5*,4,1)

1. Holmer/Cisneros (UA) def. Acuna Hill (UTEP) 21-13, 30-32, 15-12
2. Zillikem/Aalker (UA) def. Alexa Gonzalez Monreal/Krista Paegle (UTEP) 21-11, 21-9
3. Rondon/Papalwo (UA) def. Kennedy Llewellyn/Mila Popovic (UTEP) 21-6, 21-11
4. Winter/Streit (UA) def. Iana Loera/Averie Threet (UTEP) 21-15, 21-15
5. Moore/Boyko (UA) def. Adriana Oporto/Emma Schubert (UTEP) 21-14, 21-8

Dual 2 No. 17 Grand Canyon 5, UTEP 0

UTEP again showed resilience in the afternoon dual against Grand Canyon. Acuna and Hill went the distance at the top spot before dropping a three-set decision, 21-13, 21-16, 15-10. At No. 3, Kennedy Llewellyn and Mila Popovic rallied to take the second set but ultimately fell 21-13, 18-21, 15-9. The Lopes secured the dual with victories on all five courts.

Results (order of finish: 2,4,5*,1,3)

1. Garrow/B. Drake (GCU) def. Acuna/Hill (UTEP) 21-13, 21-16, 15-10
2. Kohl/Manthe (GCU) def. Gonzalez Monreal/Paegle (UTEP) 21-15, 21-14
3. Keefe/Coens (GCU) def. Llewellyn/Popovic (UTEP) 21-13, 18-21, 15-9
4. J. Drake/Edler (GCU) def. Loera/Threet (UTEP) 21-7, 21-18
5. Haugen/Goudy (GCU) def. Oporto/Schubert (UTEP) 21-15, 21-19

Up Next

UTEP continues play at the Cactus Classic on Saturday, Feb. 28, facing Oregon at 9 a.m. MST before a rematch with Grand Canyon at 12:45 p.m. MST.

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