BeachVB Preview: Cowtown Classic
4/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
FORT WORTH, Texas - For only the second time in program history, the TCU beach volleyball team is set to host a home tournament as the Horned Frogs welcome No. 1 USC, New Mexico and ULM for the Cowtown Classic that will take place from April 15-16 at the TCU Beach Volleyball Courts located beside the TCU Recreation Center.
The Horned Frogs (14-5) will open the weekend against the Warhawks (9-13) on Friday at 2 p.m., before taking on New Mexico (16-4) at 4 p.m. On Saturday, TCU will round out the weekend by facing defending national champion and No. 1 USC (19-2) at 2 p.m.
Admission to all the matches is free for fans with a live DJ, lounge chairs and a food truck available at the match.
TCU Notables
TCU has been on the road for the last three straight weekends and are coming off a 2-1 showing at the 7th annual Fiesta on Siesta in Siesta Key, Fla. The Frogs picked up 4-1 victories over Jacksonville and UNC-Wilmington before falling 5-0 to No. 10 FIU. In the last three weekends of action, TCU has won eight of the 10 matches they have played.
Two pairs sit at 15-4 on the season with Jillian Bergeson and Jaelyn Greene picking up all of their wins at the No. 3 position. Ariah Palter and Molly Scheel have also collected 15 wins this season and are 9-1 in their last 10 matches. The top pair of Michelle McNamee and Sarita Michaels sit at 13-6 on the season, while Blaire Pickens and Jordan Terral are 5-1 since pairing up a few weeks ago.
For the second straight poll this season, TCU is receiving votes in the DiG Magazine Collegiate Beach Volleyball poll.
Scouting the Competition
ULM is hoping to snap a four-match losing streak after the Warhawks dropped all four matches at Fiesta on Siesta. ULM lost close 3-2 battles with Jacksonville and UNC Wilmington and were swept by ranked opponents Florida State and Stetson. Only one pair this season has picked up 10 wins with Hope Pawlik and Taylor Zaeske totaling a 10-11 record at the No. 1 spot.
New Mexico has picked up wins in its last five straight matches and in 13 of the last 14 matches. Last weekend, the Lobos hit the road for a California road trip and picked up 4-1 wins over Pacific and San Jose State, while sweeping Sacramento State and Washington. Eastyn Baleto and Marisa Doran lead New Mexico with a 19-1 overall record by playing on courts three and four.
USC is the defending national champion and is currently ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll with wins in the team's last 15 straight matches. The No. 1 pair of Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes are undefeated on the season at 27-0 in all matches. Two other pairs have also reached 20 wins this season with Nicolette Martin and Allie Wheeler sitting at 24-3 and Sophie Bukovec and Alexa Strange holding a 20-8 record.
Live Updates
Live results of all the matches can be found at TCU.StatBroadcast.com, with final results and a recap available at GoFrogs.com following the completion of the competitions on each day. In-match updates this weekend can be found by following TCU beach volleyball on twitter (@TCUBeachVB).
Cowtown Classic Schedule
Friday, April 15
2 PM: TCU vs ULM
4 PM: TCU vs New Mexico
6 PM: New Mexico vs USC
Saturday, April 16
9 AM: ULM vs New Mexico
11 AM: USC vs ULM
2 PM: TCU vs USC
