TUCSON, Ariz. – The Sand Cats wrapped up the final day of the Boise State Classic on Sunday with a 5-0 sweep over Portland in the morning and a tight 3-2 loss to host Boise State in the afternoon.
Arizona opened the day strong at 10:00 AM against the University of Portland, sweeping the pilots without dropping a single set.
Kylee Fitzsimmons and Brooke Blutreich set the tone early, defeating Portland's Emily Wood and Annika Stammberger in straight sets (21-13, 21-11).
Adri Nieves Papaleo and Kate Phillips followed on court two, dominating Leonie Freytag and Elin Larsson 21-10, 21-11.
Ashlyn Zilliken and Madeline Walker brought the heat on court three, controlling from the start and closing out their match with a 21-7, 21-10 win over Valerie Bruk and Elena Buellemer.
Annie Kost and Elin Kaiser locked in another point with a 21-13, 21-12 win on court four, while Brooke Boyko and Katie Lambeth wrapped things up with a quick 21-10, 21-5 victory on court five.
In the afternoon duel at 12:30 PM, the Wildcats went head-to-head with Boise State in a competitive battle.
Zilliken and Walker delivered again on court three, overpowering Avery Allen and Abbie Wolf in a strong straight-set win (25-23, 21-15) to give Arizona its first point.
Boyko and Lambeth continued their solid play from the morning, earning Arizona's second point with a tight 21-19, 23-21 win over Addison Moss and Lily Patock.
Despite the momentum, the Broncos bounced back on the other courts. Fitzsimmons and Blutreich started strong with a 21-15 first-set win but couldn't hold off Boise's Sharli O'Neil and Allyson Alden, falling 21-12 and 14-8 in the next two sets.
Nieves Papaleo and Phillips battled through a gritty match, taking the first set 21-18 before Boise's Addison Wolden and Ava Anderson won the second. Boise then edged out a 20-18 victory in the third.
On court four, Annie Kost and Elin Kaiser couldn't get past Boise's Emilia Guerra-Acuña and Elli Wolthuis, dropping their match 21-18, 21-12 as Boise State sealed the match with a 3-2 win.
The Sand Cats finished the Boise State Classic on a high note despite their lone loss.
Next up, the Wildcats return home to Tucson for Senior Day this Friday, April 18, as they host UTEP at 2:00 PM at Bear Down Beach. Come out and celebrate the seniors as Arizona wraps up regular season play in the desert!
Arizona – 5, Portland – 0
Court 1: Kylee Fitzsimmons / Brooke Blutreich (ARIZ) def. Emily Wood / Annika Stammberger (PORT) 21-13, 21-11
Court 2: Adri Nieves Papaleo / Kate Phillips (ARIZ) def. Leonie Freytag / Elin Larsson (PORT) 21-10, 21-11
Court 3: Ashlyn Zilliken / Madeline Walker (ARIZ) def. Valerie Bruk / Elena Buellemer (PORT) 21-7, 21-10
Court 4: Annie Kost / Elin Kaiser (ARIZ) def. Elizabeth Ortiz / Hannah Debban (PORT) 21-13, 21-12
Court 5: Brooke Boyko / Katie Lambeth (ARIZ) def. Melissa Cormack / Taylor Helle (PORT) 21-10, 21-5
Boise State – 3, Arizona – 2
Court 1: Sharli O'Neil / Allyson Alden (BOISE) def. Kylee Fitzsimmons / Brooke Blutreich (ARIZ) 15-21, 21-12, 14-8
Court 2: Addison Wolden / Ava Anderson (BOISE) def. Adri Nieves Papaleo / Kate Phillips (ARIZ) 18-21, 21-11, 20-18
Court 3: Ashlyn Zilliken / Madeline Walker (ARIZ) def. Avery Allen / Abbie Wolf (BOISE) 25-23, 21-15
Court 4: Emilia Guerra-Acuña / Elli Wolthuis (BOISE) def. Annie Kost / Elin Kaiser (ARIZ) 21-18, 21-12
Court 5: Brooke Boyko / Katie Lambeth (ARIZ) def. Addison Moss / Lily Patock (BOISE) 21-19, 23-21
