KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Southern Oregon’s Molly Grace and Kira Sandoval have been named the NAIA Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week after delivering a perfect 3-0 performance in their first Cascade Conference matches together. The duo, featuring graduate student Grace from Cypress, California, and junior Sandoval from Chelan, Washington, helped the Raiders continue a strong start to the season as the team sits at 6-2 overall, while the pair owns a 3-2 record in doubles play.
Grace and Sandoval quickly proved they can be a difference-making combination at the No. 2 position. Their week began on March 6 against No. 2 Corban (Ore.) in a tightly contested dual that Southern Oregon ultimately dropped 3-2. Even in the loss, Grace and Sandoval provided a highlight result by taking down Corban’s second pair, Gabi Engles and Allyson Reid, in three sets. After dropping the opener 21-17, they responded emphatically with a 21-10 second set and closed the match with a 15-7 win in the third, showing both resilience and the ability to raise their level as the match progressed.
Later that same day, the Raiders faced Bushnell (Wash.) and earned a 3-2 victory, with Grace and Sandoval again coming through at No. 2. They defeated Olivia Kelzenberg and Jazmyn Wilcox in straight sets, 21-12, 21-13, setting the tone. The following day, Southern Oregon met Bushnell again and improved on the result with a 4-1 win. Grace and Sandoval completed the weekend sweep of the same Bushnell pair, this time in a more competitive straight-set battle, 21-17, 22-20, closing out the second set under pressure to finish unbeaten on the week.
The signature accomplishment of the week was the win over Corban’s No. 2 pair, a result that underscored how quickly Grace and Sandoval have come together as a unit. Going 3-0 in their first conference action as partners, they provided Southern Oregon with consistent points at a key flight and helped the Raiders build momentum early in Cascade Conference play.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Administrative Council (NAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has approved Women’s Beach Volleyball as the association’s 31st championship sport, beginning with the 2027 season. “Women’s beach volleyball has continued to grow across our membership since the NAIA first identified it as an emerging sport in 2018,” […]
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