Ducks Fall to SFA, Tulane on Opening Day

Friday, February 23

Elmwood, LA

6:30 AM

University of Oregon

Stephen F. Austin

Isabel Patterson with Presley McCaskill, Green Wave vs SFA

Photo by: Aimee Sinacola/GoDucks.com

02/23/24 | Women's Beach Volleyball

Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Oregon scored at No. 3 and 5 pairs in Friday's opener against Stephen F. Austin.

ELMWOOD, La. – The Oregon beach volleyball team opened its 2024 season with a pair of losses Friday at the Green Wave Invitational. The Ducks got points at the No. 3 and 5 pairs in a 3-2 setback to Stephen F. Austin in the opener, and were swept by host Tulane in their final match of the day.

Up next: Saturday's schedule at the Green Wave Invitational includes matches against North Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana and New Orleans. The Ducks' first match is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. (PT).

Match 1 | Stephen F. Austin 3, Oregon 2

The Ladyjacks secured the first three points of the season-opening dual before Oregon got on the board with a straight-set win by Presley McCaskill and Isabel Patterson on court five. The UO pair registered a 21-14, 21-17 victory over Lexi Higgins and Sophia Meyers for the Ducks' first point of the year.

In the second three setter of the morning, Natasha George and Sophie Gregoire rallied past SFA's Ariana Pagan and Victoria Simmang—12-21, 21-11, 15-13—to give Oregon its second point of the dual. Oregon dropped an early three-set decision at No. 4 pairs.

1: Madison Hall/Katherine Hansen (SFA) def. Daley McClellan/Alina Valenti (ORE) – 21-14, 21-15
2: Elaina Amador/Abigail Elder (SFA) def. Jensen Kaelin/Ashley Schroeder (ORE) – 21-13, 21-18
3: Natasha George/Sophie Gregoire (ORE) def. Ariana Pagan/Victoria Simmang (SFA) – 12-21, 21-11, 15-13
4: Ansley Gulledge/Meagan Ledbetter (SFA) def. Landree Coats/Skylar Kelly (ORE) – 24-22, 18-21, 15-12
5: Presley McCaskill/Isabel Patterson (ORE) def. Lexi Higgins/Sophia Meyers (SFA) – 21-14, 21-17
EXH: Brooke Davis/Brynn Dowd (SFA) def. Halli Fields/Lolo Folau (ORE) – 21-19, 21-10
Order of finish: 2, 4, 1, 5, 3

Match 2 | Tulane (rv) 5, Oregon 0

Weekend host Tulane swept its way through the Ducks' lineup, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after the first wave of play. In the second wave, George and Gregoire—winners in their morning dual—erased an early hole against Skylar Ensign and Samantha Green and took a 17-15 lead of their own. However, the Tulane pair steadied to take the first frame and went on to complete the straight-set win.

Tulane was receiving votes in last Friday's release of the AVCA preseason poll, the first team outside of the top 20.

1: Trinity Jackson/Savka Popovic (TUL) def. Daley McClellan/Alina Valenti (ORE) – 21-10, 21-12
2: Sarah Hall/Molly Trodd (TUL) def. Jensen Kaelin/Ashley Schroeder (ORE) – 21-13, 21-15
3: Skylar Ensign/Samantha Green (TUL) def. Natasha George/Sophie Gregoire (ORE) – 21-18, 21-11
4: Tawny Ensign/Lara Torreulla (TUL) def. Landree Coats/Skylar Kelly (ORE) – 21-9, 21-13
5: McKenzie Cutler/Amelia Mullen (TUL) def. Presley McCaskill/Isabel Patterson (ORE) – 21-13, 21-12
EXH: Tara Gaspar/Sam O'Connor (TUL) def. Kendall Clark/Lolo Folau (ORE) – 21-16, 21-12
Order of finish: 4, 2, 1, 5, 3

For more news and information about Oregon Beach Volleyball, follow @OregonBeachVB on Instagram and @OregonBVB on Twitter.