TEMPE, Ariz.— The Colorado Mesa University beach volleyball team claimed a 3-2 neutral-sand win over NCAA Division II rival Texas A&M-Kingsville as they managed a Friday afternoon split after falling to undefeated and national poll No. 11 Arizona State here at the Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility.
The Mavericks, now 5-3 on the season, saw their 4-dual winning streak snapped by the hosts, who improved to 5-0 with a 5-0 sweep.
CMU then won three of the first four completed matches against the Javelinas, picking up a 21-10, 21-12 clincher from No. 1 pair
Hahni Johnson and
Amanda Ollinger, who improved to 7-1 on the season.
Riley Daugherty and
Sierra Hunt had also rallied for a 22-24, 21-6, 15-12 win at No. 2 to put the Mavs up 2-0 after
Savannah Ott and
Barett Nolan claimed the first point with a 21-18, 21-16 win in the fourth flight.
The Javelinas, who suffered their first loss in five duals this campaign, did get 15-13 third-set wins at No. 3 and No. 5 but could not overcome the Mavs, who won all three match-ups between the teams last season. CMU has also won five straight match-ups with the Javelinas, who they have played at each of the last four AVCA Small College Beach Championships.
Against the Sun Devils, Johnson/Ollinger and Daugherty/Hunt both won the second sets of their matches, but dropped the deciders, 15-12.
ASU had straight set wins in the other three flights.
The Mavericks will close out a 9-day, 9-match swing through Arizona on Saturday when they face NAIA Park Gilbert here on Saturday. CMU swept all ten sets and five matches against the Buccaneers on Tuesday.
Saturday's dual is slated to begin at Noon.
