TUCSON, Ariz. – The Sand Cats had an eventful finish at the Boise State Classic on Sunday. They kicked off the day with an impressive 5-0 victory over Portland, but faced a tough 3-2 loss to Boise State later in the afternoon.
Arizona came out strong against the University of Portland, not losing a single set. Kylee Fitzsimmons and Brooke Blutreich set the pace, defeating Emily Wood and Annika Stammberger (21-13, 21-11). Following them, Adri Nieves Papaleo and Kate Phillips dominated their match against Leonie Freytag and Elin Larsson (21-10, 21-11).
Ashlyn Zilliken and Madeline Walker continued the winning streak on court three with a convincing win (21-7, 21-10) over Valerie Bruk and Elena Buellemer. Annie Kost and Elin Kaiser secured another point with their straight-set victory (21-13, 21-12). Finally, Brooke Boyko and Katie Lambeth capped off the morning’s success with a quick match, winning 21-10 and 21-5.
In the afternoon, Arizona faced Boise State in a nail-biter. Zilliken and Walker opened strong again, overcoming Avery Allen and Abbie Wolf with scores of 25-23 and 21-15 to put Arizona ahead. Boyko and Lambeth kept up the momentum, winning a tight match (21-19, 23-21).
However, Boise State pushed back hard. Fitzsimmons and Blutreich began strong but ended up losing in a close match after taking an early lead. Nieves Papaleo and Phillips fought valiantly, winning the first set before Boise took the second and edged out a win in the third. Kost and Kaiser faced a tough challenge, losing 21-18, 21-12, which sealed the win for Boise State.
Despite the loss, the Sand Cats made a strong impression at the tournament.
Looking ahead, Arizona will host UTEP on Friday, April 18, for Senior Day. It promises to be a special event as they celebrate their graduating players at Bear Down Beach.
Overall, the tournament showcased the talent and determination of the Sand Cats, highlighting their potential as they head into the final stretch of the season.
For more on the Sand Cats’ journey and upcoming matches, follow their adventures here.
Check out this related article: Heartfelt Regular-Season Finale: Grand Canyon University Athletics Faces Tough Challenge in San Antonio
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