EUGENE, Ore. – Playing host to the weekend Cascade Collegiate Conference slate at the Bushnell/Grace Beach Courts, the Beacon Beach Volleyball program came away with a split on Friday afternoon.
 
The Beacons (3-7, 3-4 CCC), currently receiving votes in the NAIA national coaches poll, claimed a 5-0 sweep over Simpson University in their first match, followed by a tight 3-2 loss at the hands of No. 4-ranked Southern Oregon University in the night cap.  
 
(RV) Bushnell University 5, Simpson University 0
 
The Beacons were pushed to a fifth-set in just one of their duals against the Redhawks as the two, three, four, and five pairs all claimed sweeps. The most impressive win came in the second set of the fives as Haley Engelbrecht and Kailey Shirley posted the best defensive set in school history, allowing just three points.
 
Hailey Heider/Kate Palelek (BU) def. K. McKechnie/B. Jimenez (SU), 17-21, 21-19, 15-12
Olivia Kelzenberg/Jazmyn Wilcox (BU) def. Tiara Manns/Emily Melo (SU) 21-7, 21-6
Carly Hanna/Monet Panther (BU) def. Elizabeth Heath/Mackenzie Tataryn (SU), 21-13, 21-16
Sydney Myhre/Laci Jespersen (BU) def. Kare Ann Oshiro/Sylus Moore (SU) 21-10, 21-13
Haley Engelbrecht/Kailey Shirley (BU) def. Kiersti Howell/Lexi Andaya (SU), 21-15, 21-3
 
#4 Southern Oregon University 3, (RV) Bushnell University 2
 
The Beacons pushed one of the top teams in the nation to the limit in their second match. After being pushed to the limit by the top Simpson pair, Bushnell's No. 1 team of Hailey Heider and Kate Palelek combined for their most impressive win of the season as they took care of Zimmerman and Gulbrandsen in straight sets.
 
Meanwhile, Sydney Myhre and Laci Jespersen, the most prolific pair in Beacon history, posted their fourth win in their last five matches.
 
Hailey Heider/Kate Palelek (BU) def. Tessa Zimmerman/Grace Gulbrandsen (SOU), 21-17, 21-12
Kira Sandoval/Molly Grace (SOU) def. Olivia Kelzenberg/Jazmyn Wilcox (BU), 21-12, 21-13
Dessa Soares/Maelle Garon (SOU)  def. Carly Hanna/Monet Panther (BU), 21-18, 21-10
Sydney Myhre/Laci Jespersen (BU)  def. Amanda Moffat/Kaitlyn Shilling (SOU) 21-15, 18-21, 15-12
Natalie Perez/Kendal Hadwick (SOU) def. Haley Engelbrecht/Kailey Shirley (BU), 21-17, 21-19
Ex.  Avery Lenssen/Bella Jacobson (BU) def. Poppy Freeman/Emily Anderson 21-10, 21-18
 
UP NEXT: The Beacons will take another stab at Southern Oregon (5-2, 3-1) on Saturday afternoon when the teams face off at 12:00 pm.