Two pairs qualify for regionals

The Saddleback beach volleyball team had a big day at the Orange Empire Conference Pairs Tournament on Wednesday at Irvine Valley College.  The Bobcats had two pairs advance to the regional finals next Friday.

Saddleback's 1's and 2's both advanced to the tournament quarterfinals after winning two matches, which automatically qualifies them for the regional tournament to be held at Mt. San Antonio College next Friday.

Sophie Vienna and Meg Gardner were pressed to the limit in their second match of the day but managed to pull out a win over Orange Coast's pair of Nika Safavi and Madison Hopkins.  Vienna and Gardner had a 21-16 win in the opening set before dropping the second set 10-21 to set up a third and final race to 15.  Vienna and Gardner won the sprint 15-11 to advance to the quarterfinals on Friday where they will face the top tandem from Santiago Canyon College in Chelsea Reidel and Ava Cline.

Delaney Wilson and Cori Willcoxson had successive sweeps past opponents from Irvine Valley and Golden West to advance to the quarterfinals.  The duo will now play the top pairs from Golden West College in the quarterfinals on Friday in Hayden Johnston and Maren Mathews. 

The OEC Tournament resumes on Friday at Irvine Valley. 

Vienna and Gardner

Round of 32:  Vienna / Gardner (SC) def. Leon / Lopez (IVC) 21-9, 21-15
Round of 16:  Vienna / Gardner (SC) def. Safavi / Hopkins (OCC) 21-16, 10-21, 15-11

Wilson and Willcoxson

Round of 32:  Wilson / Willcoxson (SC) def. Garcia / Quindoza (IVC) 21-12, 21-10
Round of 16:  Wilson / Willcoxson (SC) def. Zaffino / Zoellers (GW) 21-18, 21-16