LAKE WORTH, Fla. — Florida Southern College (6-3) faced off against Palm Beach State College (10-3) in a doubleheader, narrowly falling in both matches with scores of 3-2. The Mocs showcased competitive play, especially in the fourth and fifth flights, where they managed to secure victories.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, PALM BEACH STATE 3
In the first match, Florida Southern's top pair of
Sydney Melcher and
Ryla Bryant captured a point, defeating Tamara Streli and Emma Acedo Lapieza in straight sets, 21-13, 21-18. Meanwhile, the No. 2 flight saw
Hailey Carefoot and
Sarah Idler engage in a three-set battle against Gunda Brazaite and Chloe Sumich, ultimately falling 22-20, 7-21, 15-13. The No. 3 flight featured
Ella Pringle and
Lauren Passaglia, who won the first set 23-21 but lost the next two sets 21-17, 15-13 to C Villegas Gonzalez and L Villegas Gonzalez. In the No. 4 flight,
Sophie Harris and
Victoria Rushing secured a point for Florida Southern with a three-set victory over Georgie Vanloo and Liepa Kucinskaite, taking the match 21-16, 9-21, 18-16. However, in the No. 5 flight,
Lily Schlageter and
Aubrey Wieser fell in straight sets to Kadence Roche and Emma Hannagan, 21-17, 21-19.
In the six pairing,
Madden Bingham and
Allison Thomas defeated the Panthers 21-12, 21-10.Â
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, PALM BEACH STATE 3
In the second match, Florida Southern again saw strong performances, particularly from Pringle and Passaglia at the No. 4 spot, who defeated Georgie Vanloo and Liepa Kucinskaite in straight sets, 21-19, 21-19. The Mocs' duo of Carefoot and Idler put up a fierce fight in the No. 2 flight but ultimately lost to Tamara Streli and Emma Acedo Lapieza after splitting sets, ending 18-21, 21-19, 15-10. The No. 5 flight showcased Harris and Rushing, who overcame a first-set loss (16-21) to win the next two sets convincingly, finishing 21-15, 15-6 against Kadence Roche and Emma Hannagan. Unfortunately, in the top flight, Melcher and Bryant fell to Brazaite and Sumich after taking the first set 21-12 and losing the next two, 19-21, 8-15. The No. 3 flight saw
Isabella Muti and
Mary Olivia Muti fall to C Villegas Gonzalez and L Villegas Gonzalez, 19-21, 21-18, 15-5.
In the six pairing, Bingham and Thomas defeated the Panthers 21-10, 21-3.Â
Looking ahead, the Moccasins will host a tri-match facing  Emmanuel University (Ga.) and Berry College on Wednesday, March 11, at 2 p.m. at the Judy and Joe P. Ruthven Beach Volleyball Courts in Lakeland, Fla.
