Irvine, Calif. – The Park University Gilbert beach volleyball team competed in their second jamboree of the season where they faced off against the University of Saint Katherine, Benedictine University Mesa, and Westcliff University. In the end, the Buccaneers won one of three matches, which involved a clean 5-0 sweep of Ben U.
Game one featured a matchup involving the Firebirds of Saint Katherine and the Buccaneers. Megan Hicks and Annika Wallace were taken down early on court one, as they dropped both sets 21-11 to Gulia Ledde and Alexcis Morris.
No. 2's Grace Baker and Georgia Romine-Black took their opponents to three after winning the first set 22-20. They second set went on to finish 23-21 in favor of Saint Katherine's Lane Cisnna and Casside Salcido. Baker and Romine-Black battled, but could not find the 15 points needed to win the third set.
More losses came from the 3's and 5's, with Brittlee Harper and Daniella Miranda-Johnson running into three sets on court four. They dominated in set one, defeating Carrie Lynn and Camille Harvey 21-7. Unfortunately for the Bucs, Lynn and Harvey responded with a 21-6 win of their own, eventually taking the entire set 2-1.
The following day proved to be a much more successful experience for the Buccaneers as they swept through the Red Hawks of Ben U 5-0 in their first game of two.
Wallace and Hicks were the only pairing of the match that took their opponents to three sets. They overpowered Belle Somoza and Kylie Bartel from Ben U 15-8, claiming their first win of the jamboree. Baker and Romine-Black found their groove from the jump, winning both sets 21-7 and 21-9. More 2-0 sweeps came from the No. 3, 4, and 5 spots.
To cap the weekend, the Buccaneers were swept by the 2023 regular season champions, Westcliff.
No. 3's Harper and Miranda-Johnson were the only pairing to play in three sets. Hicks and Wallace in the No. 2 spot came close to experiencing a win over Giana Guinasso and Mia Scheepens. The two played in a long first set that ended 25-23 in favor of the Warriors. Set two was also taken by Guinasso and Scheepens 21-14. The remaining courts were defeated 2-0, capping a victorious weekend for the Warriors of Westcliff.
Park returns to the sand on April 1 for a two game matchup against Ottawa University (Ariz.) and NCAA Division I Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz.
FINAL: University of Saint Katherine 5, Park University Gilbert 0
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Guilia Ledde/Alexcis Morris (USK) Def. Megan Hicks/Annika Wallace (PARK) 2-0 (21-11, 21-11)
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Lane Cisnna/Casside Salcido (USK) Def. Grace Baker/Georgia Romine-Black (PARK) 2-1 (22-20, 21-23, 15-10)
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Mackenzie Nutting/Aubrey Cardoza (USK) Def. Samantha Washmuth/Brooke Beresford (PARK) 2-0 (21-18, 21-19)
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Carrie Lynn/Camille Harvey (USK) Def. Brittlee Harper/Daniella Miranda-Johnson (PARK) 2-1 (7-21, 21-6, 15-10)
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Abbey Ward/Gabby Alexander (USK) Def. Mallory Turner/Railey Druxman (PARK) 2-0 (25-23, 21-19)
FINAL: Park University Gilbert 5, Benedictine University Mesa 0
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Annika Wallace/Megan Hicks (PARK) Def. Belle Somoza/Kylie Bartel (BENU) 2-1 (22-20, 19-21, 15-8)
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Grace Baker/Georgia Romine-Black (PARK) Def. Anna Brykowski/Kahi Ka'alelei (BENU) 2-0 (21-7, 21-9)
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Samantha Washmuth/Brooke Beresford (PARK) Def. Christina Sanchez/Keelan Memory (BENU) 2-0 (21-17, 21-11)
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Brittlee Harper/Daniella Miranda-Johnson (PARK) Def. Courtney Ely/Amanda Lopez (BENU) 2-0 (21-11, 21-13)
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Mallory Turner/Railey Druxman (PARK) Def. Amanda Khotz/Danyell Lopez (BENU) 2-0 (21-17, 21-18)
FINAL: Westcliff University 5, Park University Gilbert 0
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Fiona Moesching/Marine Kinna (WU) Def. Grace Baker/Georgia Romine-Black (PARK) 2-0 (21-15, 21-17)
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Giana Guinasso/Mia Scheepens (WU) Def. Megan Hicks/Annika Wallace (PARK) 2-0, (25-23, 21-14)
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Maddie Shepston/Sabrina Galessi (WU) Def. Brittlee Harper/Daniella Miranda-Johnson 2-1 (21-13, 18-21, 15-5)
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Faith Webb/Luise Palenczat (WU) Def. Sam Washmuth/Brooke Beresford (PARK) 2-0 (21-16, 21-17)
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Leanna Zamora/Brooke Scheidle (WU) Def. Avery Turk/Delany Poling (PARK) 2-0 (21-13, 21-14)
