The Park University Gilbert beach volleyball team welcomed two Cal Pac teams, Marymount California and No. 5 Saint Katherine, to Gilbert on Friday morning. With conference playoff and national ranking stakes on the line, the Buccaneers responded to the challenge with 5-0 and 4-1 wins, respectively.

 

Match 1: Park Gilbert 5, Marymount California 0

 

After sweeping the Mariners on their home court just a few weeks ago, it came as no surprise that the Buccaneers were able to put them away quickly again. Four out of the five matches were decided in the minimum two sets.

 

The No. 4's (Georgia Romine-Black and Grace Hughes) continued their hot streak, handily picking up the Buccaneers' first win of the day. The Mariners made Megan Hicks and Annika Wallace (No. 2's) sweat a bit by picking up a set, but the Bucs' freshmen pair rebounded and dominated the third set.

 

It was the Buccaneers No. 3's (Haylee Kroczynski/Giuliana Kala'l Irvine) who clinched the match with 21-14 and 21-18 victories. With their wins, the No. 1's (Miranda Bacon/Jenifer Lauer) and No. 5's (Jasmine Urban/Jessi Medlin) wins were nothing more than a formality, but looked nice on the score sheet as the Buccaneers completed another sweep of the Mariners. Urban and Medlin's match marked their debut as a pair.

 

Match 2: Park Gilbert 4, Saint Katherine 1

 

The Firebirds have always been a thorn in the side of the Buccaneers. Prior to today, the Firebirds had won all three of their meetings. They came into today's match ranked fifth in the nation and the Buccaneers seized an opportunity to climb the rankings themselves with a 4-1 win.

 

Things started out tight as the teams split the first two matches. For the Buccaneers, Irvine and Kroczynski (No. 4's) pulled out a three-set victory, before Wallace and Hicks were swept. The early returns appeared the match was going to be down to the wire, but the Buccaneers' final three pairs went on a tear.

 

It started with none other than their fearless leaders, Bacon and Lauer (No. 1's), who pulled off a dominant sweep. A late Firebirds run made the final score appear close, but Bacon and Lauer led by double-digits for much of set two.

 

With a 2-1 lead, the Buccaneers needed just one win out of either their No. 3's (Romine-Black/Hughes) or No. 5's (Urban/Medlin), who were playing simultaneously. It was the No. 5's who sealed the deal before the No. 3's finished off the Buccaneers' 4-1 win.

 

The Buccaneers' win over Saint Katherine is crucial to their standing both in the Cal Pac and whole NAIA. After receiving votes in all three national coaches polls so far this season, but a win over the fifth-ranked Firebirds could go a long way to improving their place.

 

The win also comes less than 24 hours after Park Gilbert's men's volleyball team pulled off a win over No. 11 The Master's, marking the highest seed ever beaten by any Park Gilbert program. With the win over No. 5 Saint Katherine, that distinction now belongs to the beach volleyball program.

 

What's Next: The Buccaneers will have another go at Saint Katherine tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. It is a makeup contest after their scheduled meeting earlier this season in California was postponed due to COVID concerns in the USK program. The match will take place at Gilbert Regional Park.

  

Park University Gilbert vs. Marymount California, 8 a.m.

 

FINAL: Park Gilbert 5, Marymount California 0

 

1. Miranda Bacon/Jenifer Lauer (PARK) Def. Logan Kaneshiro/Mariana Turner (MCU), 2-0 (21-19, 21-11)

2. Annika Wallace/Megan Hicks (PARK) Def. Jacqui Foster/Samantha Cavelock (MCU), 2-1 (21-14, 14-21, 15-8)

3. Haylee Kroczynski/Giuliana Kala'l Irvine (PARK) Def. Torri Lambert/Cat Angus (MCU), 2-0 (21-14, 21-18)

4. Georgia Romine-Black/Grace Hughes (PARK) Def. Jordan Schriman/Jordan Nunez (MCU), 2-0 (21-12, 21-16)

5. Jasmine Urban/Jessi Medlin (PARK) Def. Kiara Amigon/Haily Murray (MCU), 2-0 (21-18, 21-18)

 

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 3*, 1, 5

 

Park University Gilbert vs. Saint Katherine, 10:15 a.m.

 

FINAL: Park Gilbert 4, Saint Katherine 1

 

1. Miranda Bacon/Jenifer Lauer (PARK) Def. Rene Wash/Aubrey Cardoza (USK), 2-0 (21-16, 21-13)

2. Olivia Muriel/Cassidie Salcido (USK) Def. Annika Wallace/Megan Hicks (PARK), 2-0 (21-19, 21-11)

3. Georgia Romine-Black/Grace Hughes (PARK) Def. Mackenzie Nutting/Morgan Alexander (USK), 2-0 (21-15, 23-21)

4. Giuliana Kala'l Irvine/Haylee Kroczynski (PARK) Def. Camille Harvey/Grace Burkett, 2-1 (21-12, 11-21, 15-6)

5. Jasmine Urban/Jessi Medlin (PARK) Def. Destiny Williams/Lauren Erickson, 2-0 (21-16, 21-17)

 

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 5*, 3