Pepperdine University
Pairs Championship
Dykstra and Strehlow Win Palmetto Invitational Title
3/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Lara Dykstra and Becca Strehlow of the Pepperdine sand volleyball team won their first pairs title of the season today after placing first at the Palmetto Invitational, hosted by South Carolina.
Dykstra (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union HS/Nebraska) and Strehlow (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS/UCLA) opened the day in the semifinals against fellow Waves Kelley Larsen (Jamul, Calif./Christian HS) and Kellie Woolever (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS). After Team Kell(i)ey won the first set, 21-14, Dykstra and Strehlow bounced back with a 21-19 win in the second.
The deciding third frame was close, but Dykstra and Strehlow emerged victorious, 15-11.
In the finals, the Waves faced Kristine Monforte and Summer Nash of FIU. Dykstra and Strehlow successfully avenged their loss to the Panther tandem on Saturday, and took the Palmetto Invitational Gold Bracket title with the 21-18, 21-14 victory.
Taylor Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) and Sophie Asprey (Southlake, Texas/Liberty Christian/Tulane) placed second in the Silver Bracket. Pepperdine's No. 4 duo squeaked past No. 5 pair Corinne Quiggle (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) and Katie Messing (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) in three sets to advance to the finals.
FIU's Aren Cupp and Tina Toghiyani took first, beating Racich and Asprey, 22-20, 21-18.
Both the Gold and Silver Bracket semifinals featured Pepperdine vs. Pepperdine and FIU vs. FIU match ups. The two Panther finalists only played once today, after their semifinalist teammates forfeited the contests.
Pepperdine returns to Zuma Beach on Saturday, April 4 to host a rematch vs. #1 USC. The Waves, currently at #3 in the rankings, fell to the Trojans in Los Angeles, 3-2, last Tuesday.
Pairs | Palmetto Invitational
March 28-29, 2015 | Columbia, S.C.
Gold Bracket
Semifinals
Kristine Monforte/Summer Nash (FIU) def. Maryna Samoday/Anja Licka (FIU) 21-0, 21-0 (forfeit)
Lara Dykstra/Becca Strehlow (PEP) def. Kelley Larsen/Kellie Woolever (PEP) 14-21, 21-19, 15-11
Final
Lara Dykstra/Becca Strehlow (PEP) def. Kristine Monforte/Summer Nash (FIU) 21-18, 21-14
Silver Bracket
Semifinals
Aren Cupp/Tina Toghiyani (FIU) def. Darija Sataric/Martyna Gluchowicz (FIU) 21-0, 21-0 (forfeit)
Sophie Asprey/Taylor Racich (PEP) def. Corinne Quiggle/Katie Messing (PEP) 21-8, 17-21, 15-11
Final
Aren Cupp/Tina Toghiyani (FIU) def. Sophie Asprey/Taylor Racich (PEP) 22-20, 21-18
