TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona beach volleyball team opened the Wildcat Spring Challenge with a pair of victories at Bear Down Beach on Friday. The No. 18 Wildcats swept Missouri State, 5-0, in the first match and earned a 4-1 victory over Santa Clara in match two.
 
Seniors Sarah Blacker and her partner Alex Parkhurst went 1-1 on the day, giving Blacker 85 career victories. She needs one more victory to tie the Arizona career record of 86 held by Madison Witt, McKenna Witt and Brooke Burling.
 
Abby Russell and Hope Shannon went 2-0 on the day at No. 2 with straight set wins while at No. 3 Alana Rennie and Grace Cook picked up two wins as well after a come-from-behind win in match two.
 
Kylee Fitzsimmons and Caroline White easily won their match at No. 4 against Missouri State and then White paired with Miranda Erro at No. 5 to get another win at No. 5 in match two. Erro was 2-0 on the day after picking up a victory over Missouri State at No. 5 with Annie Kost.
 
Dilara Gedikoglu and Kali Uhl battled at the No. 4 spot in match two and came out with the 24-22, 21-13 victory to improve to 7-0 this season.
 
Arizona will take on Colorado Mesa at 11:00am on Saturday followed by UTEP at 1:00pm. Admission is free to Bear Down Beach and the program will be recognizing the alumni back in town celebrating the 10th season of Arizona Beach Volleyball. It is also "Bark at the Beach" day where fans can bring their dogs to the matches with them, with a signed waiver at the entrance.
 
Arizona 5, Missouri State 0
 
Court 1: Alex Parkhurst/Sarah Blacker (ARIZ) def. Becca Bach/Olivia Muriel (MSU), 21-15, 21-14
Court 2: Abby Russell/Hope Shannon (ARIZ) def. Grayson Hall/Tylar Garrett (MSU), 21-17, 22-20
Court 3: Alana Rennie/Grace Cook (ARIZ) def. Manuela Niemeyer/MacKenzie Steele (MSU), 21-16, 21-13
Court 4: Kylee Fitzsimmons/Caroline White (ARIZ) def. Olivia Rattler/Brooke Plessner (MSU), 21-10, 21-8
Court 5: Annie Kost/Miranda Erro (ARIZ) def. Riley Drew/Addison Crider (MSU), 21-8, 21-15
 
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5*, 3, 1
 
Match Score: Arizona 4, Santa Clara 1
 
1. Julia Sangiacomo and Nicole Robison (SCU) def. Alex Parkhurst and Sarah Blacker (ARIZ), 22-20, 21-19
2. Abby Russell and Hope Shannon (ARIZ) def. Casey Campbell and Elena Radeff (SCU), 21-17, 21-16
3. Alana Rennie and Grace Cook (ARIZ) def. Kate Kishton and Ella Duffner (SCU), 17-21, 21-19, 15-7
4. Kali Uhl and Dilara Gedikoglu (ARIZ) def. Jordan Bennett and Claire Doud (SCU), 24-22, 21-13
5. Caroline White and Miranda Erro (ARIZ) def. Alexie Epstein and Hailey Benesz (SCU) 21-18, 21-13
 
Order of finish:4, 2, 5*, 1, 3,