MESA, Ariz. - Top-seeded Southern Oregon opened play at the NAIA Beach Volleyball Invitational on April 23 with a 4-1 win over No. 5 Ave Maria (Fla.).

At the start time, Ave Maria struck first on pair 2 as Ryan Getz and Ines Lopes defeated Southern Oregon’s Kira Sandoval and Molly Grace in straight sets, 21-14, 24-22, giving the Gyrenes the early edge and handing the Raiders their lone loss of the match. Running alongside that result, Southern Oregon answered on pair 4, where Amanda Moffat and Kaitlyn Shilling outlasted Maria Teixeira and Beatriz Rissi in a three-set battle, 21-14, 20-22, 17-15, leveling the overall score and setting the tone for a tight finish across the remaining courts.

Once both pairs 2 and 4 concluded, pairs 1, 3 and 5 took the sand to decide the dual. Southern Oregon quickly moved in front with pair 1 behind Tessa Zimmermann and Grace Gulbrandsen, who controlled their match against Adriana Bravo and Mara Delyon, 21-7, 21-13. The Raiders then extended the margin on pair 5 as Natalie Perez and Kendal Hadwick cruised past Abbey Grose and Maylis DeTar, 21-12, 21-8, to clinch the win.

The final result was sealed on pair 3, where Andressa Ribeiro Soares and Maelle Garon delivered the deciding victory over Elle Malczewski and Greta Heiney, 21-15, 23-21, completing Southern Oregon’s 4-1 triumph.