GULF SHORES, Ala. -- ULM sand volleyball players Marcela Araya and Zuzana Markova posted a 2-0 record on day one of pool play in the “Best of the Rest” portion of the AVCA College Sand Volleyball National Championship.
"We got a couple of nice wins today. It doesn't mean anything yet since it's a five-team pool, but it's exactly where we wanted to be," head coach David Fischer said.
The Warhawk duo began the day by defeating UAB's Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas 2-0. Araya and Markova won the sets 21-17, 21-11.
"Against (the Blazers), we served aggressively and were fortunate to get leads early and hold on," Fischer added.
Later, Araya and Makova posted another 2-0 victory, this time over Loyola Marymount's Betsi Mette and Litara Keil, 21-15, 22-20.
"Against (the Lions), the scorekeepers had a tough time keeping straight which team was which, but 'Mar-Z' kept a consistent game plan throughout and didn't get rattled when LMU made their runs," he said.
The ULM tandem was one of two undefeated teams on the day in pool play. The other team was Long Beach State's Tyler Jackson and Janisa Johnson, who went 2-0 in Pool B.
The Warhawks battle LBSU's Delainey Aigner-Swesey and Bojana Todorovic and Jacksonville's Taylor Nyquist and Sammie Strausbaugh tomorrow. Araya and Markova would then go on to a play-in contest to close the day if they finish in third in Pool A at the end of the day. If they remain in first or drop to second, they will advance to the pairs championship.
"Tomorrow, (we have) a tough Jacksonville squad we saw at last year's Fiesta on Siesta followed by Long Beach State's top pair. We're looking forward to a tough and fun day of volleyball in Gulf Shores where the atmosphere, crowds and weather are all fantastic," Fischer remarked.
Action is set to begin at 9 a.m. from the beaches of Gulf Shores.
