TEMPE, Ariz. – The Utah beach volleyball team opened action at the ASU Tournament on Saturday against tournament host Arizona State and dropped the contest, 1-4, at the Pera Club in Tempe, Ariz.
 
Kenzie Koerber and Megan Yett picked up the sole duo win of the day for Utah at the No. 2 position, which is the pair's fourth on the year. Koerber/Yett fell in the first set to Arizona State's Katelyn Carballo and Elly Lundberg, but forced a third set after winning 21-18 in a tight second set. Koerber and Yett came out on top in the final frame, 15-12.
 
Utah changed partners at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions to open the match. Phoebe Grace and Olivia Teerlink teamed up for the first time as Utah's No. 4's, while Kinga Windisch and Keana Smalls partnered in the No. 5 slot. Despite mixing things up, the Utes fell at both positions in straight sets to give the Sun Devils the early 2-0 lead.
 
Utah's top three pairs battled to keep the Utes' chances at the team win alive, going to three sets at all courts. Dani Drews/Tawnee Luafalemana and Lauren Sproule/Jessica Villela both took the first set against Arizona State's No. 1 and No. 3's, respectively, but dropped the second sets and ultimately the third sets as well.
 
The Utes will close out the ASU Tournament tomorrow with two matches at the Pera Club in Tempe. Utah will open the day against Abilene Christian at 12 p.m. MDT and end the weekend against No. 14-ranked Arizona at 3 p.m. MDT.
 
Arizona State 4, Utah 1
1. Oly Okaro/Ashley Wenz def. Tawnee Luafalemana/Dani Drews (14-21, 21-17, 15-7)
2. Kenzie Koerber/Megan Yett def. Katelyn Carballo/Elly Lundberg (13-21, 21-18, 15-12)
3. Katie Cross/Cierra Flood def. Jessica Villela/Lauren Sproule (19-21, 21-10, 15-10)
4. Sam Plaster/Kate Baldwin def. Phoebe Grace/Olivia Teerlink (21-4, 21-16)
5. Lauren Weintraub/Emily Anderson def. Kinga Windisch/Keana Smalls (21-16, 21-19)
(Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 3, 2)