DELAND, Fla.— The Carson-Newman beach volleyball team split a pair of contest for the second consecutive day to end the Stetson Sand Tournament following a 3-2 loss to Spring Hill in the morning and a 3-2 win over Eckerd Saturday afternoon.

"I am very proud of the way we played this weekend," assistant coach Kirby Toribio said Saturday evening. "We are getting better at working together and making plays. The best part is that we are all having fun and learning new things and that is what it is all about."

Dual No. 1—Carson-Newman vs. Spring Hill

Carson-Newman began the day with a loss in the No. 5 match by Eileen Anderson (Pittstown, N.J.) and Megan Morris (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) as the duo came up short against pair of Badgers 21-13, 21-14 in two sets.

Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.) and Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) then followed with a 21-1, 21-9 loss at in the fourth-seeded match while Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) and Maddie Zyburt (Plainfield, Ill.) fell 21-16, 21-10 at No. 3 a court over.

The Eagles were quickly down 3-0 after the first three matches to secure its second loss of the season.

Carson-Newman did not quit however, as the Eagles took the final two sets of the contest to end with the 3-2 loss from Spring Hill.

The freshmen team duo of Ally King (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Katie Will (Clearwater, Fla.) combined efforts for the 21-19, 24-22 victory in two sets to remain undefeated in the Stetson Sand Tournament. Carson-Newman's No. 1 pairing of Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) and Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) concluded the contest with a 21-14, 21-12 win.

The Eagles' victory at No. 1 singles were the senior's first win of the tournament.

Results: Spring Hill College 3, Carson-Newman 2

1. Sara Fairley/Molly Locke (C-N) def. Julie Vujnovich/Madison Seuzeneau (SPRSVB) 21-14, 21-12

2. Ally King/Katie Will (C-N) def. Anna Tietijens/Dorina Klinger (SPRSVB) 21-19, 24-22

 3. Molly Griffin/Hannah Masoner (SPRSVB) def. Taylor Lowe/Maddie Zyburt (C-N) 21-16, 21-10

4. Sara Brodner/Caroline Herrera (SPRSVB) def. Kristina Hill/Natalie Harris (C-N) 21-16, 21-9

5. Emily Greim/Catherine Milwee (SPRSVB) def. Eileen Anderson/Megan Morris (C-N) 21-13, 21-14

Dual No. 2—Carson-Newman vs. Eckerd

The Eagles began the afternoon by picking up a 21-14 victory in two sets at No. 5 following the efforts of Anderson and Morris. Eckerd immediately answered in the fourth-seeded match taking the 21-16, 21-14 win over Hill and Harris to even the contest at one point apiece.

Crason-Newman then picked up two more quick wins at No. 2 and No. 3. Lowe and Zyburt linked up to take down Gabriella Reis and Mackenzie Redner 21-17 and 21-15 while the freshman tandem of King and Will remained unbeaten winning 21-19 and 21- 16 to secure the Eagles' win on the day.

The first-seeded match between C-N and Eckerd took three sets to decide. After taking the first set 21-17, Fairley and Locked dropped the following set 21-18—forcing a third set to break the tie. The came up short in the third set 18-16 accounting for only the second point of the match for the Tritons.

The loss at the No. 1 position was the first three set contest of the year for C-N as the Eagles rallied to force the second victory in program history over Eckerd.

Carson-Newman concluded the Stetson Sand Tournament with a loss in the matches' exhibition contest as Hannah Robertson (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and Allie Foster (Johnson City, Tenn.) fell to a pair of Tritons 21-14 in the final two sets.  

Results: Carson-Newman 3, Eckerd 2

1. Kaitlyn Sibson/Tjasa Kotnik (EC) def. Sara Fairley/Molly Locke (C-N) 17-21, 21-18, 18-16

2. Ally King/Katie Will (C-N) def. Arielle Erillo/Madison Whiting (EC) 21-19, 21-16

 3. Taylor Lowe/Maddie Zyburt (C-N) def. Gabriella Reis/Mackenzie Redner (EC) 21-17, 21-15

4. Stephanie Bogda/Kali Boatwright (EC) def. Kristina Hill/Natalie Harris (C-N) 21-16, 21-14

5. Eileen Anderson/Megan Morris (C-N) def. Rachel Cornatzer/Savanna Cary (EC) 23-21, 21-15

Ext. Haylee Bilbray/Maison Burr (EC) def. Hannah Robertson/Allie Foster (C-N) 21-14, 21-14 

The Eagles will be back in action next weekend with matchups against Webber and Eckerd once again. Stay tuned into Carson-Newman beach volleyball on twitter at @CNvolleyball.

-CN-