TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Arizona Wildcats (14-5) went 3-0 in the Islander Classic against Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, Houston Baptist and Arizona Christian Academy. The Cats went into the weekend undefeated against all three teams and defended the title with two 4-1 wins and a 5-0 sweep to finish the weekend. Three pairs went undefeated on the weekend, Jasmine Safar/Dilara Gedikoglu, Abby Russell/Dana Parker and Annie Kost/Hope Shannon. 

Head Coach Steve Walker...
"This weekend we showed a great deal of maturity, patience and all around good skill in what was a very challenging event given the conditions. Although we're no strangers to   playing in such steady wind, it can really test you and we stood up that challenge quite well."

Against the Houston Baptist Huskies, the Cats recorded their second program, and second overall, win of the season. In the 4-1 final, only one Arizona court saw victory in two sets while the remaining three fought to a third. Russell/Parker were able to secure a win, finishing first with a 21-19, 21-16 final. Kost/Shannon finished close behind in a three set 19-21, 21-19, 15-13 matchup. Safar/Gedikoglu and Alex Parkhurst/Alana Rennie both went to three where they clinched the last two points for the Cats.

The Wildcats earned their third program win over the Islanders in their second match of the weekend. Both Russell/Parker and Kost/Shannon made quick work on giving the Cats the 2-0 lead with the first going two sets and the second going three. Safar/Gedikoglu fell in the first 15-21 but were able to rally in the back half going 21-11 and 18-16, to win the duel for Arizona. Parkhurst/Rennie solidified Arizona's fourth point of the duel after taking the first set, falling in the second and pulling out a win in the third. 

Arizona's final match of the weekend ended in a 5-0 sweep in favor of the Cats over Arizona Christian. All five pairs secured a win in only two sets, with only one court allowing their opponents into double digits. Russell/Parker and Kost/Shannon finished first and second for the third time on the weekend. Russell/Parker finished with one of the shortest set scores of the weekend going 21-7, 21-7 only topped by Parkhurst/Rennie who went 21-6, 21-6 on court one. 

UP NEXT
The Wildcats will be continue match play on the road to participate in the Pac-12 North Invitational on April 9-10. In Stanford, Calif. the Cats will take on Oregon, Utah, USC and Stanford. The Cats will be back at Bear Down Beach on April 15-16 for the Arizona Invitational. 

Arizona 4, Houston Baptist 1

1. Alex Parkhurst/Alana Rennie (ARIZ) def. Maddie Butters/Lauren Huggins (HBU) 21-18, 22-24, 15-11
2. Abbey Reinard/Alison Stanfill (HBU) def. Maja Kaiser/Sarah Blacker (ARIZ) 21-18, 21-19
3. Jasmine Safar/Dilara Gedikoglu (ARIZ) def. Kristen Kleymeyer/Lindsay Harris (HBU) 15-21, 21-11, 18-16 
4. Abby Russell/Dana Parker (ARIZ) def. Shelby O'Neal/Brennan Miller (HBU) 21-19, 21-16
5. Annie Kost/Hope Shannon (ARIZ) def. Mary Alper/Gabi Axelrod (HBU) 19-21, 21-19, 15-13

Match Notes:
Order of Finish: Doubles (4,5,2,3,1);

Arizona 4, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 1

1. Giuliana Poletti Corales/Brooke Pertuit (CCU) def. Alex Parkhurst/Alana Rennie (ARIZ) 21-17, 21-14
2. Maja Kaiser/Sarah Blacker (ARIZ) def. Jade Bennett/Tori Johnson (CCU) 21-18, 21-19
3. Jasmine Safar/Dilara Gedikoglu (ARIZ) def. Kiley Lewis/Migle Mazurkeviviute (CCU) 21-23, 21-16, 15-11
4. Abby Russell/Dana Parker (ARIZ) def. Aurora Carnes/Micaela Mirabal (CCU) 21-14, 21-14
5. Annie Kost/Hope Shannon (ARIZ) def. Shea Slusser/Kela Moreno (CCU) 21-14, 21-16

Order of Finish: Doubles (4,5,2,1,3);

Arizona 5, Arizona Christian Academy 0

1. Alex Parkhurst/Alana Rennie (ARIZ) def. Misty McCall/Railey Dykstra (ACC) 21-6, 21-6
2. Maja Kaiser/Sarah Blacker (ARIZ) def. Brianna Boeckman/Aubri Green (ACC) 21-9, 21-9
3. Jasmine Safar/Dilara Gedikoglu (ARIZ) def. Anna Kate Clark/CeAirra Bowman (ACC) 21-7, 21-5
4. Abby Russell/Dana Parker (ARIZ) def. Sydney Shaw/Amaya Brown (ACC) 21-7, 21-7
5. Annie Kost/Hope Shannon (ARIZ) def. Delaney Gill/Dyanna Avila-Geurrero (ACC) 21-10, 21-17

Match Notes:
Order of Finish: Doubles (4,5,3,1,2);