MESA, Ariz. - No. 2 The Master’s (Calif.) outlasted No. 7 Arizona Christian, 3-2, in a tightly contested NAIA Beach Volleyball Invitational pool play match on April 23, using a pair of straight-set wins in the early wave to set the tone before closing the door in the deciding fifth flight.

Pairs 2 and 4 took the sand first. The Master's took full advantage of the opening window. In Pair 4, Macy Gebhards and Krista Brady delivered a composed performance against Haley Tedrow and Jasmin Joesph, winning 21-15, 21-16 to put TMU on the board quickly. Moments later in Pair 2, Ashlan VanGronigen and Isabela Rodriguez added to the early momentum with a 21-16, 21-12 sweep over Jaiden Zeis and Abby Siebert, giving The Master’s a 2-0 lead before the second flights began.

Arizona Christian responded when Pairs 1, 3 and 5 started after the conclusion of the first two matches, turning the dual into a true back-and-forth battle. In Pair 1, Emee Fellens and Emily Casner earned ACU’s first point with a hard-fought 21-18, 23-21 win over Zoe Yates and Emma Winter, tightening the overall score and keeping the contest within reach. ACU then drew level in Pair 3 as Abby Nelson and Alyssa Robles secured another straight-set victory, 21-18, 21-19, over Ashlyn Unruh and Addy Brock to make it 2-2.

With the dual riding on Pair 5, The Master’s answered under pressure. Kayla Goodwin and Arianna DeRaffaele navigated two close sets to defeat Kapri Espnosa and Lilly Petersen, 23-21, 21-18, clinching the deciding point and the 3-2 team win for TMU.