COLUMBIA, S.C.— The Carson-Newman beach volleyball team dropped its opening two matches of the Palmetto Invitational Saturday by losing to North Carolina-Wilmington 3-2 and LSU 5-0 in day one of action at the South Carolina Sand Courts in Columbia, S.C.
Carson-Newman was coming off a 5-0 and 4-1 sweep of duels play against Lincoln Memorial on April 9 in what was the Eagles' first home matches in program history.
C-N has made the trip down to South Carolina on two different occasions this season and have been met with Division I programs in each outing of action.
"Today was an incredible day. We battled against UNCW, but unfortunately were beat in a couple of closely decided matches," assistant coach Kirby Toribio said. "We are getting better every time we play and our goal is to continue to work hard and reach our peak during our last tournament next weekend. Thanks to South Carolina for hosting us."
Dual No. 1: UNCW 3, Carson-Newman 2
Back in action together atop the Eagles' lineup for the first time in two weeks, Ally King (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Katie Will (Clearwater, Fla.) fell 9-21, 21-14 and 16-14 to Bella Borgiotti and Katie McCullough in the matches' pairing of No. 1's to begin the morning for C-N (7-9).
UNCW (9-13) would then fall in the match that followed as Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) and Maddie Zyburt (Plainfield, Ill.) took the two-set victory 21-12, 21-13 over Nicole Lett and Kristen Powell in the second-seeded contest.
The Seahawks would then retaliate by winning the next two matches at three and four. Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) and Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) fell 11-21, 21-13 and 15-10 in the third round of action while Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.) and Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) came out on the short end of a 21-3, 21-8 score at No. 4.
Carson-Newman's No. 5 pairing of Eileen Anderson (Pittstown, N.J.) and Megan Morris (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) would then finish off the contest with a 21-17, 18-21 and 15-10 win in three sets to record their fourth win of the season together.
Dual No. 1 Results: UNCW 3, Carson-Newman 2
1. Bella Borgiotti/Katie McCullough (UNCW) def. Katie Will/Ally King (C-N) 9-21, 21-14, 16-14
2. Molly Locke/Maddie Zyburt (C-N) def. Nicole Lott/Kristen Powell (UNCW) 21-12, 21-13
3. Ashleigh Crutcher/Maddy Kline (UNCW) def. Taylor Lowe/Sara Fairley (C-N) 11-21, 21-13, 15-10
4. Sydney Alvis/Sarah Kelly (UNCW) def. Kristina Hill/Natalie Harris (C-N) 21-3, 21-8
5. Eileen Anderson/Megan Morris (C-N) def. Halle Hunt/Anna Moss (UNCW) 21-17, 18-21, 15-7
Ext. Allie Foster/Hannah Robertson (C-N) def. Lindsay Jones/Bethany Gesell (UNCW) 22-20, 16-21, 15-10
Dual No. 2: LSU 5, Carson-Newman 0
The Eagles (7-10) began the second dual of the day against the LSU (12-6), the No. 11 ranked team in the nation, with a 21-12, 21-11 loss at No. 1 by Will and Katie.
Helen Boyle and Lilly Kessler would then make quick work of Locke and Zyburt in the first set before Carson-Newman's No. 2 pairing fought back in set two to lose 21-7, 21-19.
The Tigers would then keep the foot on the pedal as Cati Leak and Callan Molle took care of Fairley and Lowe 21-19, 21-16 in the third-seeded contest and Mandi Orellana and Riley Young beat Hill and Harris 21-9, 21-10 at No. 4.
Carson-Newman would conclude day one of the Palmetto Invitational with a 21-7, 21-8 loss in the fifth match by Anderson and Morris.
Dual No. 2 Results: LSU 5, Carson-Newman 0
1. Katie Lindelow/Ashley Allmer (LSU) def. Katie Will/Ally King (C-N) 21-12, 21-11
2. Helen Boyle/Lilly Kessler (LSU) def. Molly Locke/Maddie Zyburt (C-N) 21-7, 21-19
3. Cati Leak/Callan Molle (LSU) def. Sara Fairley/Taylor Lowe (C-N) 21-19, 21-16
4. Mandi Orellana/Riley Young (LSU) def. Kristina Hill/Natalie Harris (C-N) 21-9, 21-10
5. Cheyenne Wood/Megan Davenport (LSU) def. Eileen Anderson/Megan Morris (C-N) 21-9, 21-8
Ext. Victoria Boraski/Roxanne McVey (LSU) def. Allie Foster/Hannah Robertson (C-N) 21-7, 21-8
Carson-Newman will be back in action Sunday morning to wrap up the Palmetto Invitational with Dual No. 1 against Coastal Carolina beginning at 11:00 a.m. Sunday's final match for the Eagles will be against South Carolina at 2:00 p.m.
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