TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Beach Volleyball team returns to Bear Down Beach this weekend for three home matches at the Arizona Invitational. The Wildcats are looking to continue their momentum after an impressive performance at the LBSU Tournament, where they secured a 4-1 win over San Francisco and a 5-0 sweep against Tarleton State.
Arizona Invitational Schedule:
Friday, March 21:
Arizona vs. Central Arkansas (11:00 a.m. MST)
Arizona vs. Colorado Mesa University (3:00 p.m. MST)
Saturday, March 22:
Arizona vs. UTEP (11:00 a.m. MST)
Live scoring for all matches will be available at arizonastats.com.
Series History vs. This Week's Opponents:
Central Arkansas – Arizona holds a 2-0 all-time series lead, winning both matchups in dominant fashion. The Wildcats won their first meeting 4-1 (2018) and most recently secured a 5-0 sweep (2023).
Colorado Mesa University – Arizona is 8-0 all-time against CMU, winning every match in the series. The Wildcats have won five of those by 5-0 sweeps, including the most recent meeting on April 1, 2023.
UTEP – Arizona is 3-0 all-time against UTEP, having swept them 5-0 in all three meetings since their first matchup in 2023.
Noting the Wildcats:
Adriana Nieves Papaleo & Kate Phillips – The pair continues to shine after two straight-set victories last weekend, leading the Wildcats with dominant wins against San Francisco (21-11, 21-17) and Tarleton State (21-18, 21-14). Their chemistry has been a key factor in Arizona's recent success.
Ashlyn Zilliken & Madeline Walker – This duo was unstoppable at LBSU, securing convincing wins against both San Francisco (21-10, 21-13) and Tarleton State (21-17, 21-13). Their strong defensive presence and aggressive attacks have made them one of Arizona's most reliable pairs.
Annie Kost & Elin Kaiser – The pair dominated on court four, securing a straight-set victory (21-16, 21-6) against San Francisco before repeating their success against Tarleton State. Their consistency and ability to close out sets will be crucial for Arizona in this weekend's matches.
Arizona looks to defend its home sand as they face three opponents they've never lost to. The Wildcats will aim to continue their success at Bear Down Beach and extend their winning streaks in these all-time series.
