TUCSON, Ariz.—The Arizona Beach Volleyball team will travel to Malibu to compete in the Malibu Invite on March 1-2. The Sand Cats are ranked No. 20 in this week's AVCA Collegiate Beach Coaches Poll and carry momentum from their undefeated opening weekend at the Cactus Classic.
Arizona went 4-0 at the Classic, defeating San Francisco (5-0), UTEP (5-0), CSU Bakersfield (4-1) and Boise State (3-2). The Wildcats will face a rematch against the Broncos on Friday and will also play Vanguard and Pepperdine.
Malibu Invite Match Ups
Vanguard- The Wildcats have only faced the Lions once before but won, 5-0, in their 2019 matchup.
Pepperdine- The Wildcats have an overall record of 2-4 against Pepperdine but have won their last two meetings with the Waves. Last season, the Wildcats defeated Pepperdine, 3-2, at the Malibu Invite.
Boise State- Following their matchup in the Cactus Classic last week, Arizona is now 13-0 against the Broncos. The Feb. 24 match, from which the Wildcats emerged victorious, was a close one; the Sand Cats defeated the Broncos 3-2, with three of the five matches going to three sets.
Malibu Invite full match schedule:
Friday, March 1:
MATCH 1- Pepperdine vs. Boise State (9:00 a.m. PT)
MATCH 2- Arizona vs. Vanguard (11:00 a.m.)
MATCH 3- Pepperdine vs. San Francisco (1:00 p.m.)
MATCH 4- Arizona vs. Boise St. (3:00 p.m.)
Saturday, March 2:
MATCH 1- Pepperdine vs. Arizona (8:00 a.m.)
MATCH 2- Boise State vs. San Francisco (10:00 a.m.)
MATCH 3- San Francisco vs. Vanguard (12:00 p.m.)
MATCH 4- Boise State vs. Vanguard (2:00 p.m.)
Fans can follow along with live stats for each of the tournament's matches.
NOTING THE WILDCATS
Steve Walker is in his 11th season as the head coach for the Wildcats. Walker has a career record of 180-82 (.687) at Arizona. Named the 2016 Pac-12 Beach Volleyball Coach of the Year, Walker led Arizona to the first NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship in 2016.
Hope Shannon is 53-30 in her career at Arizona, ranking 13th in Arizona Beach Volleyball history for career wins. Last weekend at the Cactus Classic, Shannon went 3-1 with partner Grace Cook at No. 1.
Grace Cook joined the Wildcats in 2023 after transferring from Missouri St., where she was the all-time individual career wins leader with 39. In her career at Arizona, Cook is 24-12.
Senior Abby Russell has a record of 46-29 at Arizona and was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and 2023. Russell and partner Olivia McElroy were undefeated (4-0) at the No. 2 position at Arizona's regular season opener.
Olivia McElroy started her freshman season off strong, going 4-0 against opponents at the Cactus Classic. Prior to her career at Arizona, McElroy was named to the 4A All-State team as a senior and was All-Lake Player of the Year.
In her third season with the Wildcats, Annie Kost has a career record of 29-18. Last weekend, Kost and Kylee Fitzsimmons went 3-1 at No. 3 pair, winning a nail-biter against Boise State to finish the tournament.
Fitzsimmons is 12-4 as a Sand Cat. Last season, she went 9-3 with partner Caroline White at No. 4.
Miranda Erro is 22-12 in her time at Arizona. Last weekend, Erro went 3-0 with Ashlyn Zilliken as her partner at No. 5. In the 2023 season, Erro went 17-10 with partner Annie Kost and 2-1 with partner Caroline White.
Freshman Ashlyn Zilliken had a strong start to her career with the Wildcats, going 4-0 at the Cactus Classic. Prior to playing for Arizona, Zilliken Earned AVCA 2023 Beach Junior Honorable Mention All-American honors.
Freshman pair Jess Horwath and Kate Phillips also had a strong showing in their first regular season tournament with Arizona. The two went 3-1 in the Cactus Classic at No. 3 pair.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Wildcats will head to Tempe March 8-10 to compete in the Pac-12 South Invitational, facing Utah, Washington, USC and ASU.
