Broncos Go 2-1 in First Tournament of Beach Season

Friday, February 22

Tucson, Ariz.

5:30 p.m. (MT)

Boise State

Arizona

Photo by: Boise State Sports Information Dept.

2/23/2019 6:49:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Boise State beach volleyball team opened its season in impressive fashion by collecting a pair of dominating victories against Benedictine 4-1 and Colorado Mesa 5-0, then narrowly falling to No. 14 Arizona 3-2, starting the season with a winning 2-1 record.

The Broncos played all matches on Saturday due to inclement weather cancellations Friday.

Benedictine Recap
Box Score

Boise State dominated its first match of the season in a 4-1 win, all four contests won were in straight sets while the lone loss went to three sets on court five. The No. 3 pair Kiley Lewis and Kylee Johnson held their opponents to single digits in back-to-back sets, taking the victory 21-6, 21-5. Freshman Ellie McDonald made her collegiate debut with partner Jensen Allen. The pair also held their opponents to single digits, taking home the victory 21-5, 21-9.

Graduate transfer Kendra Bodine had an impressive debut with the Broncos. Bodine was part of the No. 2 pair where she helped partner Janell Walley earn a straight-set victory to clinch the team win by holding Benedictine to only five points in the final set on the way to a 21-14, 21-5 sweep. Seniors Sabryn Roberts and Morgan Hughes wrapped up the Boise State wins finishing with a 21-13, 21-12 two-set victory.

Colorado Mesa Recap
Box Score

The Broncos followed their 4-1 victory over Benedictine with a shutout versus Colorado Mesa. Three out of five pairs took down the Mavericks in straight sets; Walley and Bodine (21-11, 21-12), Allen and McDonald (21-8, 21-18), as well as Kenna Hanses and Maya Watkins. At the No. 5 pair, Hanses and Watkins had a hard-fought first set before coming out with a 26-24 victory. In the second set, they came back strong and finished 21-11 to clinch the team win.

Roberts and Hughes, the No. 1 pair, fell early 20-22 but proceeded to fight for the next two sets 22-20, 15-10 to earn the victory for the Broncos. Johnson and Lewis also fell in their first set 19-21, but came back fighting to win the next two 21-11 and 15-7.

Arizona Recap
Box Score

The final competition of the day was against the No. 14 Wildcats. Lewis and Johnson fell in the first matchup, 15-21, 17-21. Afterwards, Roberts and Hughes went on to take down Arizona's No. 1 pair in straight sets 21-14, 21-16. Kenna Hanses and Maya Watkins were also defeated, 15-21, 14-21.

Boise State evened things out at two sets apiece after Bodine and Walley continued their undefeated run as the No. 2 pair. They defeated the Wildcats in hard-fought straight sets, 21-19 and 21-18.

Tied at 2-2, Allen and McDonald battled for the team victory at the No. 4 pair after narrowly falling in the first set, 19-21. They came back to win the second set 21-10, but ultimately fell 11-15 in the final set.

The Broncos came away from their first tournament 2-1, with an impressive battle against No. 14 Arizona.

Up Next

Boise State will head to Portland, Ore. for a matchup at Portland March 9 and 10. They will start on Saturday vs. the Oregon Ducks at 1 P.M., and will face the home team Portland Pilots at 3 P.M. On Sunday, the Broncos will go head-to-head with the Washington Huskies at 11 A.M.