Glendale, Ariz. - On Friday, Arizona Christian faced off with new GSAC foe Benedictine Mesa and former GSAC foe Vanguard and beat both teams 3-2 on opening day of the 2025 season. Eliana Cho and Abigail Nelson clinched both matches for the Sandy Birds with wins at the number three pairs.
In their official first match of the season against Benedictine Mesa bright and early in the morning, the Firestorm swept the first wave with Haley Brown and Riley Brown winning at twos and followed by Emily Katzer and Jaiden Zeis winning at fours. The three matches of the second wave all went three sets with the Cho/Nelson win sandwiched in between the two BENU wins.
The day cap was a rematch of the NAIA Invitational Semifinal a season ago pitting Arizona Christian against Vanguard (who moved on to NCAA Division II during the summer). The Brown twins collected the first ACU win of the second match by squeaking out a three set thriller thanks to a 15-13 third set win. After dropping their first set, Alyssa Robles and Kapri Espinosa easily won their second and third sets for a 2-1 team lead. Cho/Nelson cruised to a straight sets victory.
MATCH INFO
Match One Score: Arizona Christian 3, Benedictine Mesa 2
Order of Finish: 2,4,1,3,5
Match Two Score: Arizona Christian 3, Vanguard 2
Order of Finish: 4,2,5,3,1
Location: Victory Lane Sports Complex, Glendale, AZ
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
ACU 3, BENU 2
1. Kylie Bartel/Taylor Erickson (BENU) def. Brianna Boeckman/Emee Fellens (ACU) 21-16, 18-21, 15-10
2. Haley Brown/Riley Brown (ACU) def. Annika Wallace/Amaya Evans (BENU) 21-17, 21-9
3. Eliana Cho/Abigail Nelson (ACU) def. Megan Hicks/Daisy Motes (BENU) 22-24, 21-13, 15-8
4. Emily Katzer/Jaiden Zeis (ACU) def. Anna Brytkowska/Nicole Gary (BENU) 21-17, 21-17
5. Sophie Drollinger/Ella Burton (BENU) def. Alyssa Robles/Kapri Espinosa (ACU) 21-14, 15-21, 15-12
ACU 3, VU 2
1. Thea Snider/Emma Galloway (VU) def. Brianna Boeckman/Emee Fellens (ACU) 21-16, 21-17
2. Haley Brown/Riley Brown (ACU) def. Paige Cutwright/Madison Arnold (VU) 21-16, 20-22, 15-13
3. Eliana Cho/Abigail Nelson (ACU) def. Katie Alexander/Anne Mayfield (VU) 21-12, 21-14
4. Cassie Smits VanOyen/Gianna Pecile (VU) def. Emily Katzer/Jaiden Zeis (ACU) 21-13, 15-21, 15-10
5. Alyssa Robles/Kapri Espinosa (ACU) def. Logan Daniels/Natalie Hill (VU) 18-21, 21-11, 15-7
NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM
Arizona Christian will square up with Wayland Baptist in the middle match of three matches hosted by the Firestorm on Saturday. Their match is scheduled for high noon.
