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University of the Pacific

Women's Beach Volleyball

Sand Volleyball Dominates Cal To Open The 2015 Season

Stanford, Calif. - Opening the 2015 campaign with a bang, the Tigers dominated the sand on day one of the NorCal Invitational at Stanford as they put down Cal, 4-1, on Friday, March 6. The win for Pacific (1-0) was its second over the Golden Bears (0-1) in as many seasons and first over Cal's sand only team that formed in the fall.

"This was a great team effort today to open the season," said head coach Greg Gibbons. "Coming back from a great year last year with everyone returning and the addition of our newcomers we knew we were going to be really competitive. Beating a sand only squad that has been training since August is a huge win for us. This was a great way for the team to start the season and I am really proud of all of them."

For the Tigers, the day started off in fine fashion as the Tigers' No. 4 and No. 5 pairings got the team off to a perfect start with two sweeps to take the 2-0 lead. Finishing first, the familiar team of Kimmy Whitson and Alicja Wilk picked up where they left off from a season prior when they 5-2 together to dominate their matchup against the Golden Bears. Joining the early party for the Tigers was their youngest and newest pairing as freshmen Taylor Poncetta and Andie Shelton came up with their first collegiate victories in the sand to put Pacific out in front comfortably.

Leading 2-0, the Tigers suffered their only loss of the day at No. 3 as All-American Gillian Howard had an off day alongside of her partner, Mia Feiner, to fall in a close match with Inanna Eshoo and Katie Regalia. The mid-match tilts were not all lost however as Pacific's freshmen exhibition team of Katrin Gotterba and Maycie LaBass persevered to take home a two-set win for good measure.

Still leading by one match, Pacific put the overall match away in quick fashion when Anne-Sophie Bauer and Megan Birch ran away with their contest at No. 2. The duo, playing for the first time together, just missed posting Pacific's top score of the day as they were edged out by a point by Whitson and Wilk earlier in the afternoon.

With the match in hand, the Tigers solidified their standing as one of the top teams on the West Coast with a hard fought win at the top of the listings when Lexi Elman and Kat Schulz put their first notch in their belts with a three-set win over Sarah Cole and Emily Lunt. After dropping the first set of the year, the Tigers' top team dominated the second set, winning 21-10, before coming through with the 15-11 win in set-three to complete the comeback.

The win for the Tigers sets up a showdown with their rival, No. 6 Saint Mary's, in the semifinals of the NorCal Invitational on Saturday, March 7. The Gaels made short work of San Jose State to advance on in the tournament as the two top teams in Stanford meet for a chance to go to the finals later in the day. The semifinal matchup is slated for 9:00 am while the championship match is scheduled for 3:00 pm.

Pacific 4, California 1
March 6, 2015 - Stanford, Calif.

NorCal Invitational 
1) Lexi Elman/Kat Schulz (UOP) def. Sarah Cole/Emily Lunt (CAL), 19-21, 21-10, 15-11
2) Anne-Sophie Bauer/Megan Birch (UOP) def. Bryce Bark/Allison Leong (CAL), 21-15, 21-13
3) Inanna Eshoo/Katie Regalia (CAL) def. Gillian Howard/Mia Feiner (UOP), 21-18, 21-19
4) Kimmy Whitson/Alicja Wilk (UOP) def. Sammy Furlan/Ashley Johnson (CAL), 21-13, 21-14
5) Taylor Poncetta/Andie Shelton (UOP) def. Sabrina Blackwell/Teya Neff (CAL), 21-17, 21-19
Exh: Katrin Gotterba/Maycie LaBass (UOP) def. Sammy Furlan/Ashley Johnson (CAL), 21-14, 23-21

Order of finish: 4,5,3,2,1

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Players Mentioned

Anne-Sophie Bauer

#1 Anne-Sophie Bauer

5' 9"
Junior
Megan Birch

#11 Megan Birch

6' 1"
Senior
Lexi Elman

#8 Lexi Elman

6' 0"
Sophomore
Mia Feiner

#7 Mia Feiner

5' 7"
Junior
Katrin Gotterba

#3 Katrin Gotterba

5' 6"
Freshman
Gillian Howard

#13 Gillian Howard

6' 3"
Senior
Maycie LaBass

#14 Maycie LaBass

6' 0"
Freshman
Taylor Poncetta

#4 Taylor Poncetta

5' 11"
Freshman
Kat Schulz

#12 Kat Schulz

6' 1"
Junior
Andie Shelton

#2 Andie Shelton

5' 9"
Freshman
Kimmy Whitson

#9 Kimmy Whitson

5' 11"
Junior
Alicja Wilk

#10 Alicja Wilk

6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Anne-Sophie Bauer

#1 Anne-Sophie Bauer

5' 9"
Junior
Megan Birch

#11 Megan Birch

6' 1"
Senior
Lexi Elman

#8 Lexi Elman

6' 0"
Sophomore
Mia Feiner

#7 Mia Feiner

5' 7"
Junior
Katrin Gotterba

#3 Katrin Gotterba

5' 6"
Freshman
Gillian Howard

#13 Gillian Howard

6' 3"
Senior
Maycie LaBass

#14 Maycie LaBass

6' 0"
Freshman
Taylor Poncetta

#4 Taylor Poncetta

5' 11"
Freshman
Kat Schulz

#12 Kat Schulz

6' 1"
Junior
Andie Shelton

#2 Andie Shelton

5' 9"
Freshman
Kimmy Whitson

#9 Kimmy Whitson

5' 11"
Junior
Alicja Wilk

#10 Alicja Wilk

6' 1"
Junior