Beach Volleyball game between the Texas Longhorns and LMU Lions at Whitaker Sports Complex in Austin, Texas on March 22, 2025. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
Texas Beach Volleyball showcased an impressive performance on the second day of the East vs. West Invitational, claiming victories over No. 2 LMU and No. 11 Arizona State. These back-to-back wins brought the Longhorns' home record to a dominant 7-1 and boosted their overall season record to an impressive 16-5, solidifying their status as a top contender this season.
The day began with a stunning upset over the No. 2-ranked LMU Lions. Texas established an early lead, capturing the first two points of the duel. The No. 2 pair, Emma Grace Robertson and Katie Hashman, delivered a strong performance, winning their match in straight sets, 21-18, 21-15. Following their lead, the No. 4 duo of Macey Butler and Noa Sonneville secured another straight-sets victory, 23-21, 21-18, giving Texas a 2-0 advantage. However, LMU fought back, earning points from the No. 3 pair (Karin Zolnercikova and Maddison Parmelly) and the No. 5 pair (Carys Patton and Vivian Johnson) with scores of 21-17, 21-18 and 21-16, 21-18, respectively.
With the duel tied at 2-2, all eyes turned to the No. 1 court, where Chloe Charles and Eva Liisa Kuivonen battled it out in a thrilling three-set match. The pair's determination shone through as they claimed a 15-21, 21-18, 15-12 victory, securing the upset for the Longhorns.
In the second duel of the day, Texas faced the No. 11 Arizona State Sun Devils and once again displayed their resilience and depth. Robertson and Hashman (No. 2) continued their exceptional form, opening the duel with a 21-16, 21-18 win. Arizona State responded by leveling the match with a victory over the No. 4 pair (Butler and Sonneville) in a nail-biting three-set contest, 17-21, 21-18, 17-15. However, Texas quickly regained the upper hand as the No. 5 pair, Ava Patton and Kylie Wickley, delivered a 21-14, 21-19 win. The No. 3 pair, Zolnercikova and Parmelly, followed suit with a hard-fought 21-13, 17-21, 15-9 victory.
The day concluded with another electrifying performance from Charles and Kuivonen on the No. 1 court. In a dramatic match that featured six match points, the pair triumphed with a 21-16, 16-12, 23-21 win, sealing a 4-1 duel victory for Texas. Several Longhorn pairs excelled throughout the weekend, with Charles and Kuivonen (No. 1), Robertson and Hashman (No. 2), and Butler and Sonneville (No. 4) each earning a 3-1 record across their matches.
Next, the Longhorns are set to travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to compete in the highly anticipated Death Volley Invitational on March 28-29. There, they will face a formidable lineup of opponents, including Stanford, Long Beach State, UCLA, and USC, as they look to continue their remarkable season.
University of Texas Beach Volleyball
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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