UAB and Arizona State top C-N in sand duals

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (2-3) and Arizona State University (2-5) snatched 5-0 victories over the Carson-Newman Eagles (0-4) Saturday afternoon at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex.

"People will see the scores and say we lost, but we didn't," Carson-Newman coach Dan Ahiers said. "We stress to the girls that there is a difference between losing and getting beat. Losing means we didn't try and gave up. Getting beat means you played an excellent team, played well, but didn't play good enough to win. Getting beat happens and it happened today. There's nobody on the sand volleyball team that lost today. I'm very happy with the way they played today.

Dual No. 1 – UAB 5, Carson-Newman 0

The Eagles top duo of Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) once again were close, but the Blazers duo of Kiri Hinriri and Bethanie Thomas won 21-13 and 21-19.

Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) and Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) stayed consistent with a 21-12 and 21-9 loss to Leslie Ekpe while Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.) fell 21-10 and 21-8 to Rachel Fairbanks and Sara Rishell.

Morgan Harlan (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) and Lindsey Wells (Morristown, Tenn.) captured the lone set win of the day for Carson-Newman winning the first frame 21-13 over Anna Messisco and Gabbi Moreno before falloing 21-9 and 15-7.

Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) fell to Becca Howard and Avei Logolea 21-10 and 21-13.

RESULTS
UAB 5, Carson-Newman 0
Kiri Hinrini/Bethanie Thomas (UAB) def. Rachel Harper/Jenna Wilson (C-N) 21-13, 21-19
Leslie Ekpe/Ally Slaughter (UAB) def. Sara Fairley/Taylor Lowe (C-N) 21-12, 21-9
Rachel Fairbanks/Sara Rishell (UAB) def. Kristen Pickett/Kristina Hill (C-N) 21-10, 21-8
Anna Messisco/Gabbi Moreno (UAB) def. Morgan Harlan/Lindsey Wells (C-N) 13-21, 21-9 and 15-7
Becca Howard/Avei Logolea (UAB) def. Lauren Santarelli/Anna Patton (C-N) 21-10, 21-13

Dual No. 2 – Arizona State 5, Carson-Newman 0

In the most competitive dual of the season for the Eagles, the Sun Devils took all five hotly contested matches. Harper and Wilson fell 21-15 and 21-16 to Bethany Jorgensen and Jordy Checkal. Fairley and Lowe almost won the first set but fell to Macey Gardner and Bianca Arellano 21-17 and 21-12.

Pickett and Hill were in sync throughout the match, but fell 21-17 and 21 14 while Harlan and Wells fell just short 21-13 and 21-11 to Whitney Follette and Halle Harker. Santarelli and Patton capped the day with a 21-14 and 21-6 loss to Andi Lowrance and Frances Giedraitis.

RESULTS
Arizona State 5, Carson-Newman 0
Bethany Jorgensen/Jordy Checkal (ASU) def. Rachel Harper/Jenna Wilson (C-N) 21-15, 21-16
Macey Gardner/Bianca Arellano (ASU) def. Sara Fairley/Taylor Lowe (C-N) 21-17, 21-12
Sydney Palmer/McKenzie Willey (ASU) def. Kristen Pickett/Kristina Hill (C-N) 21-17, 21-14
Whitney Follette/Halle Harker (ASU) def. Morgan Harlan/Lindsey Wells (C-N) 21-13, 21-11
Andi Lowrance/Frances Giedraitis (ASU) def. Lauren Santarelli/Anna Patton (C-N) 21-14, 21-6

The Eagles conclude their first weekend of sand volleyball competition with a match against No. 6 Florida State at 1:15 p.m. and No. 8 Georgia State at 4:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon.