Utah Beach Volleyball Takes Two Wins in Texas

Friday, March 1

Nacogdoches, TX

7:30 AM

University of Utah

Stephen F. Austin

3/1/2024 9:29 PM | Beach Volleyball

Utes match best winning streak since 2022

Nacogdoches, Tex. – Utah Beach Volleyball picked up two wins on their first day of action in the Lonestar State, defeating Stephen F. Austin in their first match of the day 3-2, before sweeping McNeese State University 5-0.

This was the first time the Utes took both their matches in a single day since 2022 when they defeated Irvine Valley College and CSU Bakersfield. This three-match win streak for Utah also matches their longest since 2022, when the Utes defeated San Jose State, Ottawa-Arizona, and SLCC.

The team of Kylie Pitzak and Marissa Koch would be the first to post a win for Utah, taking their match from Stephen F. Austin in a three-set battle, 21-19, 18-21, 15-12. Stephen F. Austin would go on to take a 2-1 advantage after courts three and five were the next to finish. Chloe Narancich and Lauren Sayre would fall in their match on the third court, 21-17, 21-12. Sonja Wessel and Milan Ray put up a fight on the fifth court for the Utes, falling 21-17, 18-21, 15-12. The duo of Rylee Johnson and Bella Vezzani evened the score at two courts apiece, taking their match 21-18, 21-11. The first court was the last to finish, as Langley Griffin and Katie McAlister took the match 22-20, 21-16.

With their win over McNeese State, Utah secured their second 5-0 sweep of the season. Narancich and Sayre picked up their first win of the day, clinching the first win for Utah in the second match of the afternoon, 21-15, 21-11. Griffin and McAlister kept the momentum rolling from their first win, taking down their opponents from McNeese, 21-16, 21-19. The second duo to secure their second win of the day was the team of Johnson and Vezzani, picking up a 21-14, 21-19 victory. McNeese was unable to find any offense on the final two courts against the Utes, as the team of Pitzak and Koch took their match 21-10, 21-9. Wessel and Ray added their first win of the day, 21-6, 21-7.

Utah 3, Stephen F. Austin 2
1. Langley Griffin/Katie McAlister (UU) def. Madison Hall/Katherine Hansen (SFA) 22-20, 21-16
2. Rylee Johnson/Bella Vezzani (UU) def. Ariana Pagan/Victoria Simmang (SFA) 21-18, 21-11
3. Abigail Elder/Elaina Amador (SFA) def. Chloe Narancich/Lauren Sayre (UU) 21-17, 21-12
4. Kylie Pitzak/Marissa Koch (UU) def. Meagan Ledbetter/Ansley Gulledge (SFA) 21-19, 18-21, 15-12
5. Sophia Myers/Brynn Dowd (SFA) def. Sonja Wessel/Milan Ray (UU) 21-17, 18-21, 15-12
Exh. Ryann Allison/Lexi Higgins (SFA) def. Azure McOmber/Londyn Giles (UT) 22-20, 21-17
Order of Finish: 4,5,3,2,1

Utah 5, McNeese 0
1. Langley Griffin/Katie McAlister (UU) def. Carissa Chainey/Gracey Janes (MCN) 21-16, 21-19
2. Rylee Johnson/Bella Vezzani (UU) def. Harlee Tupper/Rylee Lansing (MCN) 21-14, 21-19
3. Chloe Narancich/Lauren Sayre (UU) def. Kendall Osgood/Ella Swansiger (MCN) 21-15, 21-11
4. Kylie Pitzak/Marissa Koch (UU) def. Nadia Manitzas/Jolie Savoie (MCN) 21-10, 21-9
5. Sonja Wessel/Milan Ray (UU) def. Bella Ceja/Kaylene Gohmann (MCN) 21-6, 21-7
Order of finish: 3,1,2,5,4