PHOENIX— Colorado Mesa University took 1-0 and 2-1 leads with wins in the top two flights but dropped a 3-2 decision to UC Davis on Saturday here at Grand Canyon University's Canyon Classic.
That followed a 5-0 defeat to Arizona State, ranked 11th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Collegiate Beach Preseason Poll.
The Mavericks finished their opening weekend of the season, 0-4 against NCAA Division I institutions.
The Arizona State Sun Devils won every match in straight sets although
Gracyn Spresser and
Ellie Ask were competitive in their No. 1 match-up with Ava Kirunchyk and Samaya Morin, who won 21-15, 21-13.
In the afternoon encounter with UC Davis, the Mavs got on the board first as Spresser and Ask won 21-17, 21-14 over Kendal Steller and Morgan Gillinger in a Court 2 match-up. However, the Aggies were able to win at No. 4 to level the dual heading into the second wave.
Emerson Deferme and
Ania Swartzendruber then gave the Mavs a 21-17, 22-20 win over Kimi Waller and Ella Erteltova in the top flight match as the Mavs rotated their lineup.
However, the Aggies scratched out wins at No. 3 and No. 5 during the second wave to complete the dual.
The Mavericks will be off next weekend before hosting junior college opponents during the Maverick Invitational on Mar. 6-7, their only home weekend of the season.
