CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Tiebreaker sets were unkind to the Southern Oregon beach volleyball team as the Raiders were eliminated from the NAIA West Qualifier Tournament on Friday at the Elite Athlete Training Center.
SOU, which went 2-0 in pool play Thursday to lock down a spot in the semifinals, lost 3-2 in its final Pool B match against No. 9-ranked Westcliff (Calif.). The result left the Raiders matched up in the semis against No. 2 Corban, which after winning all three of its Pool A duals stayed perfect at the tournament in another 3-2 decision.
Five of the Raiders' six match losses on the day came in tiebreaker frames after they won the first sets, including all three against Corban. They dropped to 12-5 and will need an at-large bid to the eight-team NAIA Invitational to extend their season. They learn next week if they'll be included at the tournament April 25-27 in Greeneville, Tenn.
"We had an opportunity to learn some valuable lessons today," SOU coach Paul Elliott said. "Our dual against Corban was as close as can be. I am so proud of this team and am grateful to the players."
The semifinal dual was tied 2-2 with only the No. 1 pairs left on the sand. After SOU's Madi Gray and Tessa Zimmermann stole the first set, 22-20, Corban's Emma Bischoff and Megan Dennis – the Cascade Conference Pair of the Year – fought back to take a tight second, 21-18. Bischoff and Dennis had to come back again in the third for a 15-12 win.
SOU's No. 3 pair, Lucretia Benolken and Kendal Hadwick, won their tiebreaker set against Corban, and No. 5 pair Natalie Perez and Natasha Perez picked up the other win with a sweep. The Perez sisters also swept against Westcliff – joined in victory by No. 2 pair Grace Gulbrandsen and Kira Sandoval – and completed the tourney with a perfect 17-0 season record.
All four of SOU and Corban's matchups this spring were decided by 3-2 scores. The Warriors won three of them.
Corban advanced to play Saint Katherine (Calif.) in Saturday's championship.
Westcliff 3, Southern Oregon 2
1. Sabrina Galassi/Marcella Rodriguez (WU) def. Madi Gray/Tessa Zimmermann (SOU) 22-24, 21-19, 15-10
2. Grace Gulbrandsen/Kira Sandoval (SOU) def. Diamonique Brogan/Brooke Scheidle (WU) 21-12, 21-14
3. Serena Comer/Izzy Duchaine (WU) def. Lucretia Benolken/Kendal Hadwick (SOU) 8-21, 22-20, 15-7
4. Chloe Johnson/Faith Webb (WU) def. Annie Hite/Skyy Nihipali-Botelho (SOU) 21-17, 21-16
5. Natalie Perez/Natasha Perez (SOU) def. Amanda Ferreia/Ava Himstreet (WU) 21-9, 21-19
Corban 3, Southern Oregon 2
1. Emma Bischoff/Megan Dennis (CRB) def. Madi Gray/Tessa Zimmermann (SOU) 20-22, 21-18, 15-12
2. Jessica McMillain/Danae Stokes (CRB) def. Grace Gulbrandsen/Kira Sandoval (SOU) 12-21, 21-19, 15-12
3. Lucretia Benolken/Kendal Hadwick (SOU) def. Emmi Marks/Kiley Power (CRB) 21-13, 14-21, 15-12
4. Allyson Reid/Erin Scott (CRB) def. Annie Hite/Skyy Nihipali-Botelho (SOU) 18-21, 23-21, 15-9
5. Natalie Perez/Natasha Perez (SOU) def. Cammie Masanda/Sydney Sanford (CRB) 21-15, 21-18