GULF SHORES, Ala. — On day one of the AVCA National Championships, number one pair Mandi Orellana and Katie Lindelow took both of their matches to three sets, but the duo were unable to garner a win, falling to both Loyola Marymount and UAB.
“It’s always frustrating to come so close and then you can’t pull it out,” said head coach Russell Brock. “They played really good volleyball against tough opponents. Experience impacts matches when the teams are this talented. This version of the sport and the competition and the level that it’s played is still new. It’s a hurdle that can definitely swing a match and we just came up a little bit short.”
In the first match against Loyola Marymount, Orellana and Lindelow fell in the first set 16-21. The two came back to grab the second set 21-16 before dropping the third 15-11.
The pair attempted to rally in the second match against UAB. After they were defeated in a first set nailbiter 19-21, the duo roared back in the second with an impressive 21-11 victory. Orellana and Lindelow kept the third set close, but couldn’t pull out the win in a tightly contested 12-15 loss.
“We maybe didn’t execute quite the way that we wanted. I thought we played well in both matches. In those matches where you’re separated by a few points, the ultimate deciding factor to who got the victory would be hard to pinpoint,” said coach Brock.
Orellana and Lindelow return to action tomorrow for their final two matches of pool play. The first match against ULM will begin at noon and the second match against Arizona will start 2 p.m. before the selection for bracket play on Sunday.
“Tomorrow is doing it with a little more confidence and just trusting our gameplan,” said coach Brock. “I think that’s what’s going to push us over the top. You can start second guessing yourself after you lose two close matches like we did. If we play with renewed confidence, we have a chance to win both matches. The way the pool’s been going, we still have the opportunity to advance. That’s our goal.”
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Day One AVCA National Championships
May 1, 2015
Pool A
Mandi Orellana and Katie Lindelow
Loyola Marymount (Metter/Sponcil) (L) 16-21, 21-16, 11-15
UAB (Hirini/Thomas) (L) 19-21, 21-11, 12-15