ASHLAND, Ore. – The Bushnell beach volleyball team picked up their second-ever post-season victory on Thursday, knocking off The College of Idaho in an elimination game of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament Presented by US Bank, 3-2.
 
It was a long afternoon for the Beacons, who endured a 45-minute lightning delay and a 2-1 deficit, climbing back with two late wins for the victory. Head Coach Kim Elgarico said, "The fight and resilience even through the lightning delay was incredible. We played with so much heart and confidence and we are so proud of our Beacons!"
 
The match started off with a rare loss for Sydney Myhre and Laci Petersen in the No. 4 pair. The No. 2 pair of Jazmin Wilcox and Olivia Kelzenberg (pictured) answered right back with a victory. Facing off for the first time against Faith Faucher and Greta Valaika, who had spent most of the season as the Yotes' No. 1 pair, Wilcox and Kelzenberg bounced them in straight sets, 21-17, 24-22 to tie up the match.

Kelzenberg said, "Jazz and I had confidence going into our Idaho match. We knew our game plan but also knew we just needed to have fun. It was a tough game but we got it done."

"The first set we stuck to our game plan which helped us keep momentum," added Wilcox. "The second set was much closer byt I knew we were not going to lose that set."
 
The second flight began with a tough loss at the No. 1's with Kate Palelek and Hailey Heider falling to their opponent, giving the C of I a lead. Shortly after the 1's completed their match, the skies opened and a 45-minute lightning delay ensued.
 
At the time of the delay, Bushnell's 5's had won their first set while the 3's had lost theirs, with the Yotes knocking on the door of a Beacon elimination.
 
The 5's closed out in straight sets with Haley Engelbrecht and Isabella Jacobson claiming the victory, 21-11, 21-16, leaving the match tied at 2-2 with the No. 3 pairs set to decide it.
 
With the entirety of both rosters surrounding the court providing raucous support, Carly Hanna and Monet Panther were up to the task, rallying from a 21-19 loss in set one to claim the next two, 21-17 and 15-13 to seal the emotional victory for the No. 4 seeded Beacons.
 
Panther said, "Carly and I never had a doubt that we were going to take that game. We trusted our connection and abilities to make the right plays when we needed to. Having the support of our team right next to us meant everything to us!"
 
"I am extremely proud of the way Mo and I came back from the storm delay and played super aggressively," added Hanna. "I can't wait to carry this momentum into tomorrow and celebrate tonight with the team."
 
Bushnell, who had fallen to top-seed Southern Oregon University in their first match, move on to another elimination contest on Friday while the Yotes head home to Caldwell.
 
UP NEXT: The Beacons will play again at 11:00 am Friday, taking on the loser of the 9:00 am winners-bracket match between SOU and No. 2-seed Corban. That match was originally scheduled to be played on Thursday evening, but was postponed to Friday morning due to the extended weather delay.  
  
Southern Oregon 3, Bushnell 1 (Played to Decision)
1. Tessa Zimmerman/Grace Gulbrandsen (SOU) led. Kate Palelek/Hailey Hughes (BU) 21-18, 16-11
2. Kira Sandoval/Molly Grace (SOU) def. Olivia Kelzenberg/Jazmyn Wilcox (BU) 21-12, 21-15
3. Andressa Ribeiro Soares/Maelle Garon (SOU) def. Carly Hanna/Monet Panther (BU) 21-10, 21-17
4. Sydney Myhre/Laci Jespersen (BU) def. Amanda Moffat/Kaitlyn Shilling (SOU) 21-19, 21-17
5. Natalie Perez/Kendal Hadwick (SOU) def. Haley Engelbrecht/Isabella Jacobson (BU) 21-9, 21-16
 
Bushnell 3, College of Idaho 2
1. Liza Montalbo/Carolina Moreno Rubio (CI) def. Kate Palelek/Hailey Hughes (BU) 21-18, 21-11
2 Olivia Kelzenberg/Jazmyn Wilcox (BU) def. Faith Faucher/Greta Valaika (CI) 21-17, 24-22
3. Carly Hanna/Monet Panther (BU) def. Sophia White/Ellie Baker (CI) 19-21, 21-17, 15-13
4. Kadance Jacobson/Emily Lettenmaier (CI) def. Sydney Myhre/Laci Jespersen (BU) 17-21, 21-15, 15-7
5. Haley Engelbrecht/Isabella Jacobson (BU) def. Kelsy Stranger/R. Hickingbottom (CI) 21-11, 21-16