Palomar's No. 1 Duo Reaches PCAC Finals

LONG BEACH (4-28-2017)

-- Palomar's No. 1 beach volleyball duo of Kianna Niu and Brittany Mitchell advanced all the way to the championship match of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference individual tournament on Friday before finally losing to host Long Beach City College's No. 1 duo 22-20, 21-15.

Niu and Mitchell move on to the state individual tournament next weekend. The Comets' No. 2 team of Colleen Jones and Ashley Aubele and their No. 3 duo of Kelsey Payne and Lisa Eldridge narrow missed qualifying for state.

"There were huge dust storms blowing the semis and finals, which made play very interesting," Palomar coach Karl Seiler said. "It was a great showing by us in the tournament."

Niu and Mitchell defeated Long Beach's No. 2 team 21-18, 21-11 to open the tounament, then also beat Grossmont's No. 2 duo 21-18, 21-18, Grossmont's No. 1 team by 21-0, 21-0 forfeit and El Camino College's No. 2 team 21-18, 21-19 in the semifinals.

Jones and Aubele defeated Mesa's No. 3 team 21-16, 20-22, 15-13 in the first round, then lost 21-18, 21-18 to El Camino's No. 1 duo. Payne and Eldridge defeated Rio Hondo's No. 2 duo 21-18, 21-16 duo in the first round, then lost to Grossmont's No. 1 duo 21-18, 21-18.