Columbia, S.C.—The Carson-Newman beach volleyball team finished off the Gamecock Invitational Sunday afternoon with a 4-1 loss to Texas Christian and a 5-0 defeat from the tournament's host, South Carolina, to end the four-day trek through Palmetto State.
"What a fun weekend. There is nothing better than playing the sport we love on Easter to celebrate the love and forgiveness that God has for us in Jesus," assistant coach Kirby Toribio said. "South Carolina was an incredible host and the teams made us better volleyball players, especially on the defensive side. We are excited and thankful to have the opportunity to come back again in April."
Dual No.1— Texas Christian 4, Carson-Newman 1
For the third-consecutive match, Carson-Newman's No. 2 pairing of Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) and Maddie Borch (Walnut Creek, Calif.) were the only Eagle duo to record a team-point in the contest.
Lock and Borch teamed up to take down Shane Peters and Olivia Canales 29-27 and 24-22 in the second-seeded contest.
Other than the two aforementioned, Carson-Newman did not tally another point in the contest.
Ally King (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Katie Will Clearwater, Fla.) dropped match No. 1 21-15 and 21-13 to begin the afternoon. Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) and Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) followed suit a court over with the 21-17 and 21-18 loss in the third-seeded contest.
Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) and Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.) fell 21-19 and 21-18 to Blaire Pickens and Clare Ford at No. 4 and Eileen Anderson (Pittstown, N.J.) and Megan Morris rounded out the match with a 21-13 and 21-14 loss at No. 5
Results: TCU 4, CNU 1
1. Michelle McNamee/Sarita Mikals (TCU) def. Ally King/Katie Will (CNU) 21-15, 21-13
2. Molly Locke/Maddie Broch (CNU) def. Shane Peters/Olivia Canales (TCU) 29-27, 24-22
3. Jaelyn Greene/Jillian Bergeson (TCU) def. Taylor Lowe/Sara Fairley (CNU) 21-17, 21-18
4. Blaire Pickens/Clare Ford (TCU) def. Natalie Harris/Kristinia Hill (CNU) 21-19, 21-18
5. Molly Sheel/Ariah Palter (TCU) def. Megan Morris/Eileen Anderson (CNU) 21-13, 21-14
Exh. No scores were recorded for the exhibition match.
Dual No. 2— South Carolina 5, Carson-Newman 0
The Eagles were swept 5-0 for the first time on the season in the second match Sunday afternoon against the hosting Gamecocks of South Carolina.
King and Will again teamed up to lead things off for Carson-Newman and fell 21-14 and 21-8 in the first seeded-contest.
For the first time in the Gamecock Invitational, C-N's No. 2 pairing of Locke and Borch were defeated. The duo fell to Sarah Blomgren and Aubrey Ezell 21-18 and 21-13 to end the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Lowe and Fairley came up short at No. 3, losing to Marcie Tendrich and Katie Reilly 21-12 and 21-14, while Harris and Hill lost 21-15 and 21-11 in the fourth round of action. c
The Eagles' fifth pairing of Morris and Anderson took a 21-12 and 21-9 loss in the final recorded match on the day.
Carson-Newman finshed the day off with a loss in the exhibition match as Hannah Robertson (Soddy Daisey, Tenn.) and Allie Foster (Johnson City, Tenn.) fell 21-7 and 21-5 to Erin Neuenfeldt and Litsa Darby.
Results: South Carolina 5, Carson-Newman 0
1. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) def. Ally King/Katie Will (CNU) 21-14, 21-8
2. Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Molly Locke/Maddie Broch (CNU) 21-18, 21-13
3. Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) def. Taylor Lowe/Sara Fairley (CNU) 21-12, 21-14
4. Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) def. Natalie Harris/Kristina Hill (CNU) 21-15, 21-11
5. Erin Neuenfeldt/Litsa Darby (SC) def. Megan Morris/Eileen Anderson (CNU) 21-12, 21-9
Exh. Emma Lock/AJ Baumann (SC) def. Allie Foster/Hannah Robertson (CNU) 21-7, 21-5
Carson-Newman will host its first home contest in program history when the Eagles take the courts again by welcome Lincoln Memorial to Mossy creek on April 9.
-CN-
