The Oregon sand volleyball team lost both of its matches Friday, eact by the score of 3-2, against Stanford and St. Mary’s during the first day of the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, California.
Against the Cardinal, Oregon scored points from its team of Natalie Bookout Gonzalez and Frankie Shebby, as they took down their opponents 21-19, 21-14 in the No. 4 match.
Portland State transfer Roni LaPierra and Marinne Hall-Poirier scored for the Ducks in the No. 5 position in a pair of close matches, taking down Kelsey Humpreys and Catherine Raquel 21-19, 21-18.
Stanford earned points at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions to bring it to 2-2 overal.. Liz Brenner and Chelsey Keoho took on Stanford’s Maddie Bugg and Ivana Vanjak at No. 2. The Ducks won the first set, 23-21, but Stanford forced a third match and narrowly defeated the Ducks 16-14.
In the nightcap against St. Mary’s, the Ducks repeated their earlier performance, taking points at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions. LaPierra/Hall-Poirier won big in the No. 5, 21-7, 21-3. Gonzalez/Shebby followed that up with a win in 21-18, 22-20.
Oregon’s No. 3 team battled back from a first set loss to win 21-19 in the second, but dropped the third set, 15-12. In the No. 1 position, the Ducks took the first set 26-24, before dropping the second and third, 21-15, 15-12.
Oregon returns to action tomorrow for another doubleheader with matches against Cal at 9 a.m. and Cal Poly at 12 p.m.
Stanford 3, Oregon 2
1) Lauren Birks/Brittany Howard (STAN) def. Shellsy Ashen/Kacey Nady (ORE), 21-14, 21-14
2) Madi Bugg/Ivana Vanjak (STAN) def. Liz Brenner/Chelsey Keoho (ORE), 21-23, 21-11, 16-14
3) Jordan Burgess/Merete Lutz (STAN) def. Taylor Agost/Maggie Scott (ORE), 21-14, 21-14
4) Natalie Bookout Gonzalez/Frankie Shebby (ORE) def. Inky Ajanaku/Grace Kennedy (STAN), 21-19, 21-14
5) Roni LaPierre/Marne Hall-Poirier (ORE) def. Kelsey Humphreys/Catherine Raquel (STAN), 21-19, 21-18
Saint Mary’s 3, Oregon 2
1) Dalas Dodd/Alexis Salmons (SMC) def. Shellsy Ashen/Kacey Nady (ORE), 24-26, 21-15, 15-12
2) Mary Hernandez/Clare Powers (SMC) def. Liz Brenner/Chelsey Keoho (ORE), 21-14, 21-16
3) Mileva Popovic/Madi Wilkerson (SMC) def. Taylor Agost/Maggie Scott (ORE), 21-14, 19-21, 15-12
4) Natalie Bookout Gonzalez/Frankie Shebby (ORE) def. Maegan Conroy/Hannah Liserra (SMC), 21-18, 22-20
5) Roni LaPierre/Marne Hall-Poirier (ORE) def. Jordan Patchell/Nicole Singh (SMC), 21-7, 21-3
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