CHULA VISTA, Calif.  – The No. 4-seed Bushnell beach volleyball team opened up the 2023 NAIA West Qualifier on Thursday with a pair of pool-play losses to NAIA Top-Ten ranked teams at the Elite Athlete Training Facility.  
 
The Beacons made it anything but easy on their ranked foes, fighting tooth and nail in an impressive showing. Head Coach Kim Elgarico said, "If I could sum up our performance today in two words it would be 'fight and heart.' The teams we played today are tough and experienced and we took them to the absolute closest possible outcome. We never gave up and literally gave every last breath of effort."
 
In the opening match, the University of Saint Katherine won 4-1. The Firebirds, ranked seventh in the NAIA Coaches Poll, swept at the 2,3,4,5 pairs to clinch the victory before Makenna Northern and Logan Kaneshiro saved the shutout in the No.1 pair with a come-from behind victory.
 
University of Saint Katherine 4, Bushnell University 1
1. Logan Kaneshiro/Makenna Northern (BU) def. Giulia Ledda/Alexcis Morris (USK) 13-21, 21-18, 15-12
2. Lane Csimma/Casside Salcido (USK) def. Roslyn McLellan/Madison Trueblood (BU) 21-19, 22-20
3. Aubrey Cardoza/Makenzie Nutting (USK) def. Brooke Silvernail/Jadeya Hayes (BU) 21-10, 24-22
4. Camille Harvey/Carrie Lynn (USK) def. Halle Neumann/Laci Jespersen (BU) 21-19, 21-15
5. Grace Burkett/Abbey Ward (USK) def. Anessa Stotts/Abigail Nelson (BU) 21-17, 21-19
Ex. Brooke Bell/Gabby Alexander def. Mai Tomlin/Megan Netter (BU) 21-15, 22-20
Order of finish: (4,2,5,3,1)
 
Bushnell took on the No. 2 seed/No. 2-ranked Westcliff University in their second pool-play match and lost all five pairs, but not before Halle Neumann and Laci Jespersen (pictured) took the Warriors No. 4 pair to the limit going extra points in the first two sets before falling 15-13 in the third.
 
Westcliff University 5, Bushnell University 0
1. Marine Kianna/Fiona Moesching (WU) def. Logan Kaneshiro/Makenna Northern (BU) 21-10, 21-12
2. Gionna Guinasso/Mia Scheepens (WU) def. Roslyn McLellan/Madison Trueblood (BU) 21-11, 21-15
3. Sabrina Galassi/Maddie Shepston (WU) def. Brooke Silvernail/Jadeya Hayes (BU) 21-10, 24-22
4. Luise Palehczat/Faith Webb (WU) def. Halle Neumann/Laci Jespersen (BU) 20-22, 27-25, 15-13
5. Grace Burkett/Abbey Ward (WU) def. Anessa Stotts/Abigail Nelson (BU) 21-17, 21-13
Ex. Leonor Chambel/Rena Comer def. Mai Tomlin/Megan Netter (BU) 21-12, 21-17
Order of finish: (2,4,5,1,3)
 
Upon completion of Thursday's pool play, the seeds and complete bracket were announced for Friday. Bushnell (7-10) slipped to the No. 5 seed. They will take on the No. 4 seed Park-Gilbert (5-9) at 9:00 am in a quarterfinal rematch from 2022. Park-Gilbert, who lost to No. 1 Corban and defeated Benedictine Mesa (0-10) in pool play, knocked the Beacons out of the tournament last season, but not before being defeated by Bushnell for their first ever victory during pool play.
 
"We are taking each loss as an insight into what is next." Added Elgarico. "We continue to learn and adapt, but more than anything we wish we had one more chance to show what we can do, and we will tomorrow. I am so proud of our beach family's ability to overcome and move forward. We will rest and prepare to give Park everything we have in the morning."
 
The winner will move on to face No. 1 Corban in the semifinals at 3:00 pm. The Championship match is scheduled for Saturday, April 8 with the winner receiving the NAIA West group automatic qualification for the NAIA National Invitational, April 20-22.