GULF SHORES, ALA. - The Florida Southern College beach volleyball team opened the AVCA Small College Beach Championships with two matches Thursday in Gulf Shores, Ala.
The Moccasins (21-11), eighth in seeding among Pool E of the championship field, took on No. 5 Texas A&M University-Kingsville and No. 15 Southwest Baptist University to open day one of championship weekend. Mocs won 3-0 against the Bearcats (8-14) and a 3-0 loss to the Javelinas (23-11).
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 0
The afternoon opened with a 3-0 sweep for the Mocs as FSC had three pairs compete to start the championship as the top pair of
Ashli McKenny and
Emma Winford defeated Southwest Baptist 21-13, 21-16. The duo of
Reagan Carlton and
Zoe Lowe won their match in straight sets 21-15, 21-17. The only other pair to finish and earn the 3-0 win was the No.4 pair, as
Hailey Carefoot and
Isabella Muti won 21-15, 21-9.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 0, TEXAS A&M - KINGSVILLE 3
A tough opponent for the Mocs but they gave it their all as the topflight of McKenny and Winford rallied in both sets, falling by two in both sets 23-21, 21-19. The No.2 pair of
Nicole Eden and
Sydney Melcher took to the sand for the first time falling by two in set one 22-20 and 21-14 in set two. The final court forced a third set as
Mary Olivia Muti and
Hayley St. Martin fell in set one, 21-18 rallied to tie it in set two, 21-17 before just missing the final set 15-11.
In the pairs challenge,
Sophie Harris and
Madeline Sanders joined forces as well
Sarah Idler and
Aubrey Wieser as the duos both went 2-0 in the challenge. Harris and Sanders defeated Anna Borner and Laney Kathol from WSC 21-9, 21-17 and Delaney Evans and Presley Gardner 21-13, 21-17. Idler and Wieser also faced WSC opponents defeating Kaelyn Anderson and Jolee Ryan with a 21-18 final in both sets. The pair went on to face Caroline Bailey and Isabella Gibbons winning in three sets 11-21, 21-16, 15-9.
The Mocs will continue action tomorrow as they move to bracket play opening the day with an 8:00 am first serve against Colorado Mesa in Gulf Shores, Ala.
