SMCC Beach Volleyball Makes History with Win over Benedictine-Mesa
PHOENIX ---
The South Mountain Community College beach volleyball team defeated Benedicitine-Mesa 3-2 on Friday, Feb. 24, to give the program its first-ever win over a four-year university. The Cougars' No.3, 4, and 5 pairs all won in straight sets as the Cougars celebrated the historic feat.
Started in 2021 as the US returned to competition from the coronavirus pandemic, the Beach Volleyball team had posted wins over some four-year schools' second teams or "B" squads, but never over the top group.
In the No. 3 pairs, freshmen Rylee Pitts and Nichole Gary posted their team-leading third win of the season with a 21-11, 21-11 victory. The duo is now 3-3 on the season and won their last three duals.
The Cougars switched up their line-ups in the No. 4 and No. 5 pairs, and the changes paid off for SMCC head coach Patrick Mooney and his squad. Freshmen Alexa Wasil and Hannah Van Winkle won the No. 4 pairs 21-16 and 21-17 in their first dual as a tandem. Freshmen Shandi Allison and Emee Fellens took the No. 5 court with a 21-10 and 21-17 victory in their first dual as a tandem.
In the No 1 pairs, sophomore Kristine Garcia and freshman Amaya Evans fell 21-17 and 17-9, although Garcia and Allison later won an exhibition contest in straight sets (21-10, 22-20). Sophomore Emily Wilson and freshman Daisy Motes fell in the No. 2 pairs, nearly pulling off the victory in a three-set battle. They lost 21-18, 17-21, and 15-13.
The Cougars are now 2-4 on the season and return to action on Friday, Mar. 3, with a home doubleheader against the NAU Club Team beginning at 11 a.m. at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Ariz.
Results
- Garcia/Evans: L, 21-17, 17-9
- Wilson/Motes: L, 21-18, 17-21, 15-13
- Pitts/Gary: W, 21-11, 21-11
- Wasil/Van Winkle: W, 21-16, 21-17
- Allison/Fellens: W, 21-10, 21-17
- Garcia/Allison: W, 21-10, 22-20 (Exhibition)