Beach Dawgs Split On Day One In Desert

Friday, February 28

Tucson, AZ

9:00 AM

University of Washington

Stephen F. Austin

February 28, 2020 | Beach Volleyball

By: UW Athletic Communications

TUCSON, Ariz. – Washington Beach Volleyball embarked on its seventh season today, starting with a split at Arizona's Bear Down Beach. The Huskies opened the year with a 5-0 victory over Stephen F. Austin, but a few hours later the Dawgs came up short against 13th-ranked Arizona in a 4-1 decision. The Husky number ones, Kara Bajema and Shayne McPherson, won both of their matches today to lead at the top.

Match 1 vs. Stephen F. Austin

The Huskies debuted four new pairs today, with five individuals making their Husky Beach debuts. Against the Lumberjacks, the No. 2 and No. 4 pairs were on first. That saw Natalie Robinson teaming with newcomer Chloe Loreen at the two spot, where they defeated SFA's Schieferstein and Beckham, 21-12, 21-19. At the No. 4 position, Shannon Crenshaw played her first beach match following two seasons indoors, teaming with senior grad transfer Addie Picha, and the two won a 21-19, 21-13 decision over Perdue/Williams.

Bajema and McPherson, the only returning starting pair from a season ago, moved up to the No. 1 spot for the first time together and they had the clinching point, 21-12, 21-16, over Fletcher/Evans.

Sophomore Callie Weber teamed with true freshman Scarlett Dahl at the No. 5 position and the two earned a 21-18, 21-13 win to make it 4-0 Huskies. The final point came at No. 3, where Emma Calle and Claire Hoffman teamed up for the first time and defeated SFA's Hunt/Wisener, 21-11, 21-19.

Match 2 vs. Arizona

Already on day one the Huskies went up against a ranked Pac-12 rival. The order of play was the same as the first match, but Arizona was able to get the early edge. Picha and Crenshaw had a 21-12, 21-9 loss at the No. 4 spot and Robinson and Loreen ran out of room to turn around their match at No. 2, falling to Arizona's Anselmo/Lowry 21-12, 21-17.

Calle/Hoffman lost two tight sets at No. 3, 22-20, 21-16, to Blacker/Parkhurst of UA, and Dahl and Weber came up short by a 21-14, 21-15 count at the No. 5 spot.

Bajema and McPherson would get the Huskies on the board in the No. 1 battle, fighting off Arizona's top duo of Burling/Hallaran by a 21-17, 21-19 score. McPherson is now two wins away from tying the career dual wins record for a Husky.

Washington will take to the sand again tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Pacific time, facing Colorado Mesa, to cap the quick road trip.

Washington Beach Volleyball
February 28, 2020
Tucson, Ariz. | Bear Down Beach

Match 1

Washington – 5
Stephen F. Austin – 0

1) Bajema/McPherson (UW) def. Fletcher/Evans (SFA), 21-12, 21-16
2) Robinson/Loreen (UW) def. Schieferstein/Beckham (SFA), 21-12, 21-19
3) Calle/Hoffman (UW) def. Hunt/Wisener (SFA), 21-11, 21-19
4) Picha/Crenshaw (UW) def. Perdue/Williams (SFA), 21-19, 21-13
5) Dahl/Weber (UW) def. Pagan/Dean (SFA), 21-18, 21-13
Order of finish: 4, 2, 1*, 5, 3

Match 2

No. 13 Arizona – 4
Washington – 1

1) Bajema/McPherson (UW) def. Burling/Hallaran (Ariz), 21-17, 21-19
2) Anselmo/Lowry (Ariz) def. Robinson/Loreen (UW), 21-12, 21-17
3) Blacker/Parkhurst (Ariz) def. Calle/Hoffman (UW), 22-20, 21-16
4) Orlich/Parker (Ariz) def. Picha/Crenshaw (UW), 21-12, 21-9
5) Baham/Hess (Ariz) def. Dahl/Weber (UW), 21-14, 21-15
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5*, 3, 1