Pepperdine University
Pairs Championship
Pepperdine Impresses at USAV Collegiate Challenge
4/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. -- The Pepperdine sand volleyball team impressed on the final day of the USAV Collegiate Challenge in Hermosa Beach, collectively going 12-4 in pairs championship play. Kellie Woolever and Kelley Larsen were crowned winners of the Silver Bracket, while Samantha Cash and Leanna Schroeder took top honors in the Copper Bracket.
Woolever (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) and Larsen (Jamul, Calif./Christian HS) battled in the Silver Bracket, which featured the No. 2 and No. 3 pairs from the 10 different schools in attendance. The duo won straight-set decisions against pairs from Long Beach State, USC and Hawaii before meeting up with the Trojans' Sophie Bukovec and Alexa Strange in the finals. After splitting the first two frames, Team Kell(i)ey won the final set, 15-12, to take their third pairs title of the season.
Lara Dykstra (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union HS/Nebraska) and Becca Strehlow (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS/UCLA) placed second in the Gold Bracket. The Waves first defeated Shannon Dugan and Mackenzie Phelps, Grand Canyon's No. 1 duo, before eliminating Hawaii's top tandem of Brittany Tiegs and Nikki Taylor in three sets. Dykstra and Strehlow faltered in the finals vs. Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes of USC to finish as runner-up champs.
Corinne Quiggle (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) and Taylor Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) led the charge in the Bronze Bracket (No. 4-5), reaching the semifinals behind one victory yesterday in the opening round and two wins today.
Schroeder (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian HS) and Cash (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest Academy) owned the Copper Bracket (No. 6-8) to win their second pairs title of the season. After outlasting LMU's Lindsay Carr and Nicky Kevorken, 17-21, 21-13, 15-8, the Waves shut out London Chow and Hannah Zalopany of Hawaii in straight sets. The finals featured Schroeder and Cash against Paige Hines and Jo Kremer of USC. The two sides exchanged 21-16 sets, and the Pepperdine pair won the deciding frame by a 15-12 tally.
The AVCA is scheduled to announce the teams and pairs that are Gulf Shores bound for the national championships on April 20. The AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships return to Alabama for the fourth-straight season on May 1-3.
Pairs | USAV Collegiate Challenge
April 11-12, 2015 | Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Gold Bracket
Lara Dykstra/Becca Strehlow (PEP) def. Shannon Dugan/Mackenzie Phelps (GCU) 21-17, 21-14
Lara Dykstra/Becca Strehlow (PEP) def. Brittany Tiegs/Nikki Taylor (UH) 16-21, 22-20, 15-12
Sara Hughes/Kelly Claes (USC) def. Lara Dykstra/Becca Strehlow (PEP) 21-13, 21-14
Silver Bracket
Anete Brinke/Tyler Jackson (LBSU) def. Emily Cook/Delaney Knudsen (PEP) 25-27, 21-15, 15-13
Kelley Larsen/Kellie Woolever (PEP) def. Jenelle Hudson/Bre Mackie (LBSU) 21-14, 21-11
Kelley Larsen/Kellie Woolever (PEP) def. Eve Ettinger/Meg Norton (USC) 23-21, 21-11
Kelley Larsen/Kellie Woolever (PEP) def. Olivia Urban/Katie Spieler (UH) 21-18, 21-18
Kelley Larsen/Kellie Woolever (PEP) def. Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC) 21-12, 21-12
Bronze Bracket
Corinne Quiggle/Taylor Racich (PEP) def. Andrea McHugh/Ciana Wagner (LBSU) 21-19, 21-16
Sophie Asprey/Katie Messing (PEP) def. Rachel Nieto/Sammee Thomas (LBSU) 18-21, 22-20, 15-12
Corinne Quiggle/Taylor Racich (PEP) def. Lara Schreiber/Heather Boyan (UH) 21-15, 19-21, 15-9
Jenna Belton/Bria Russ (USC) def. Sophie Asprey/Katie Messing (PEP) 21-16, 19-21, 15-12
Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Corinne Quiggle/Taylor Racich (PEP) 21-19, 21-17
Copper Bracket
Samantha Cash/Leanna Schroeder (PEP) def. Lindsay Carr/Nicky Kevorken (LMU) 21-13, 21-15
Samantha Cash/Leanna Schroeder (PEP) def. London Chow/Hannah Zalopany (UH) 21-16, 21-15
Samantha Cash/Leanna Schroeder (PEP) def. Paige Hines/Jo Kremer (USC) 16-21, 21-16, 15-12
