Mesa, Ariz.- Fourth-seeded Arizona Christian opened play at the GSAC Beach Volleyball Championship with a split on Thursday at the Arizona Athletic Grounds.

In their opening dual, the Firestorm fell 3-1 to top-seeded and NAIA No. 1-ranked OUAZ. ACU's lone point came at the No. 3 flight, where Alyssa Robles and Abigail Nelson earned a straight-sets victory. OUAZ secured the match with wins at the No. 2, 4, and 5 positions.

Arizona Christian responded in the afternoon elimination match, earning a 3-1 victory over third-seeded Benedictine University Mesa. The Firestorm picked up wins at the No. 1, 3, and 4 flights.  After the Red Hawks claimed the first point at twos, Jasmin Joseph and Haley Tedrow answered by winning the fours in three sets.  Robles and Nelson pushed ACU ahead with a straight win at threes.  Emily Casner and Emee Fellens clinched the match with a close straight sets win at the top of the lineup.

With the win, the Firestorm advance to Friday's semifinal #2 matchup, where they will face OUAZ once again at 10:00 a.m. The Spirit enter Friday's match after a loss to second-seeded The Master's on Thursday.