ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida Southern College participated in "The Battle at the Bay," where they first secured a 3-2 victory over Eckerd College before falling to Lindenwood University with a final score of 1-4, both matches taking place at the Baker Beach Volleyball Complex.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, ECKERD 2
In the matchup against Eckerd, the decisive points came from the Mocs' top three pairs, each delivering wins to clinch the match. At the top flight,
Sydney Melcher and
Ryla Bryant engaged in a hard-fought three-set battle against Eckerd's Brooke Hand and Anna Jupin, ultimately securing a win with scores of 21-19, 17-21, 18-16. In the No. 2 position,
Ella Pringle and
Lauren Passaglia added another point for Florida Southern with a straight-sets victory over Teagan VanderMey and Ella Kloepper, finishing 21-17, 22-20. The No. 3 flight featured
Hailey Carefoot and
Sarah Idler overcoming Maddie Prois and Emma Samuelson in another intense three-set encounter, with scores of 21-15, 6-21, 17-15.
Despite the victory already being secured, the 4s saw
Isabella Muti and
Mary Olivia Muti fall to Addie White and Marti Boser in straight sets, 7-21, 20-22. Meanwhile, in the 5s,
Sophie Harris and
Aubrey Wieser faced a tightly contested match against Jessi Meghreblian and Natalie Harvey, ultimately losing 22-20, 21-23, 17-19.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 1, LINDENWOOD 4
However, the Mocs faced a tougher challenge against Lindenwood. In the top flight, Melcher and Bryant were unable to secure a win, falling to Nyah Wilson and Susanna Beretti in straight sets, 23-21, 21-11. The 2s featured Pringle and Passaglia, who faced Abby Jacobs and Annalie McWhorter, with Jacobs and McWhorter claiming a point for Lindenwood with a straight-sets victory, 21-15, 21-18. In the No. 3 spot, Carefoot and Idler redeemed themselves by claiming Florida Southern's sole point in a hard-fought three-set battle against Aubrey Sheppard and Gabby Belcher, winning 19-21, 21-14, 19-17.
On Court 4, Isabella and
Mary Olivia Muti were unable to overcome Lexie Schauffler and Katie Bockhorst, losing 21-9, 21-12. The 5s saw Harris and Wieser take on Myah Hough and Kaelyn Putz, with Hough and Putz adding a point for Lindenwood, winning 21-19, 21-19.
Looking ahead, Florida Southern's next challenge will be against Palm Beach Atlantic University and Tusculum on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.at the Baker Beach Volleyball Complex in St. Petersburg, Fla. to close out the Battle on the Bay.
