Arizona became the first state in the country to hold an official sand volleyball season in the spring of 2012 and Tucson Salpointe became the first team from Southern Arizona to join in the sport when they began competition this month.

Phoenix Xavier Prep won the first historic championship (5-0 sweep of Fountain Hills) in 2012 and have since captured titles in 2013 and 2014. Salpointe is not eligible to play for the title this spring due to a lowered number of scheduled matches but the school will play a full schedule next year according to coach Heather Moore-Martin.

"There are four colleges in Arizona that offer the sport and we felt it was the right thing to do," Moore-Martin explained. "Sand volleyball is becoming the new sport for women and Salpointe agreed to help us field a team."

The University of Arizona, Arizona State, Grand Canyon and Arizona Christian all offer sand volleyball scholarships.

At the time of the announcement of the new sport in Arizona in the fall of 2011, the only Southern Arizona schools to show serious interest were Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge and Salpointe but neither one could gather much support from their administrations until the Lancers were able to move forward with Moore-Martin.

Salpointe was placed in Section I of Division I and they won their historic first match on March 6 over Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (4-0).

Also joining the fun for the first time this year is Scottsdale Chaparral under the direction of head coach Barry Hayes. Chaparral played their first match in school history against Salpointe on Monday at the Tucson Racquet Club.

"It was our first match and we didn't know what to expect," Hayes said. "We decided to try it out and this was our first time. We've only been able to scrimmage ourselves and now we know what we need to work on. We love it. I love it."

Chaparral defeated Salpointe 3-2 with the difference coming with the results from the third match where Haylie Bayster and Misty McCall defeated Salpointe's Clare Wickman and Isabella Ali 2-1.  The two teams were tied at 8-8 in the third set but Chaparral scored the final seven points to take it 15-8.

Salpointe's top team of Peyton Lewis and Alanna Duarte defeated Savannah Rummel and Lauren Stivrins  2-0 (21-17, 21-17). Stivrins has committed to Nebraska.

Play continues with five pairs competing. Each pair is trying to win the best of three with the first two going to 21 points. The third set, if needed, is played to 15.

Teams switch sides every seven points (five in the third set) and serves are alternated between the partners.

Complete schedule at AZPreps365.com

 

Chaparral 3, Salpointe 2

 

1 (SAL) 4 Peyton Lewis/9 Alanna Duarte def (CHAP) 6 Savannah Rummel/0 Lauren Stivrins  2-0 (21-17, 21-17)

2 (SAL) 10 Maggie Schepelmann/1 Arica Christensen def (CHAP) 22 Brooke Boiseau/3 Teralyn Lawrie 2-0 (23-21, 21-17)

3 (CHAP) 1 Haylie Bayster/14 Misty McCall def (SALP) 3 Clare Wickman/2 Isabella Ali 2-1 (21-17, 16-21, 15-8)

4 (CHAP) 12 Bailee Bauermeister/35 Victoria Loreto def (SALP) 7 Iliana Robles/1 Megan Naughton 2-0 (21-11, 22-20)

5 (CHAP) 32 Madison Merkow/24 Elaine Escarcega def (SALP) 5 Brooke Smith/8 Mckenzie Meza 2-1 (18-21, 21-12, 15-7)

Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 1