HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The inaugural Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship kicked off Thursday as No. 5-seed ULM went 1-1, earning a 3-1 win over No. 4-seed UNCW before falling to top-seed and No. 14 Georgia State, 3-0, at the John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex.
All matches Thursday were played to the decision point due to inclement weather moving into the Huntsville area.
In the first meeting between ULM and UNCW, the Warhawks came out victorious with a 3-1 match win. UNCW's only win came at the No. 3s with the Seahawks' Ellie Bucci and Ashley Thompson defeating
Brooke Hoven and
Tamsie Black, 21-10, 21-17. ULM responded with a win at the No. 2s by
Kaitlyn Nowak and
Madeline Marquez, defeating Bri Haggerty and Lyvia Trimp, 21-16, 21-16. The Warhawks took control of the match with a win at the No. 5s by Kaitlyn and
Kaylie Beck defeating Kaley McLaughlin and Maddy Folks, 21-17, 21-17. The match was clinched by the Warhawks on court 4 by
Avery Reynolds and
Claire Williamson in a 3-set win over Jadyn Berry and Sarah Thompson, 21-11, 13-21, 15-10.
ULM advanced to the winner's bracket semifinals, where they faced top-seeded and No. 14 Georgia State. Georgia State took the match, 3-0, despite late pushes made by the Warhawks. Georgia State opened the match with a win at No. 5s with the Panthers' Destiny White and Aliisa Vuroinen defeating Kaitlyn and
Kaylie Beck, 21-10, 21-12. The Panthers went up 2-0 in the match with their win at the No. 4s as Maddy Delmonte and Ayla Johnson defeated Reynolds and Williamson, 21-13, 21-15. The match was then clinched by GSU on court two by Yasmin Kuck and Lila Bordis who defeated Nowak and Marquez, 21-14, 21-19.
ULM returns to action at 1:30 p.m. Friday in an elimination game against the winner of No. 6-seed Southern Miss and No. 7-seed Mercer.
(5) ULM 3, (4) UNCW 1
1. Gabby LaPata / Sadie Sharkey (UNCW) vs.
Julia Blazek /
Rylin Adams (ULM) 17-21, 21-13, 10-10 (DNF)
2.
Kaitlyn Nowak /
Madeline Marquez (ULM) def. Bri Haggerty / Lyvia Trimp (UNCW) 21-16, 21-16
3. Ellie Bucci / Ashley Thompson (UNCW) def.
Brooke Hoven /
Tamsie Black (ULM) 21-10, 21-17
4.
Avery Reynolds /
Claire Williamson (ULM) def. Jadyn Berry / Sarah Thompson (UNCW) 21-11, 13-21, 15-10
5.
Kaylie Beck /
Kaitlyn Beck (ULM) def. Kaley McLaughlin / Maddy Folks (UNCW) 21-17, 21-17
Match Notes:
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 5, 4
(1) Georgia State 3, (5) ULM 0
1. Angel Ferary / Bella Ferary (GSU) vs.
Julia Blazek /
Rylin Adams (ULM) 21-15, 20-18 (DNF)
2. Yasmin Kuck / Lila Bordis (GSU) def.
Kaitlyn Nowak /
Madeline Marquez (ULM), 21-14, 21-19
3. Kelly Dorn / Elise Saga (GSU) vs.
Brooke Hoven /
Tamsie Black (ULM), 21-13, 20-18 (DNF)
4. Maddy Delmonte / Ayla Johnson (GSU) def.
Avery Reynolds /
Claire Williamson (ULM), 21-13, 21-15
5. Destiny White / Aliisa Vuroinen (GSU) def.
Kaylie Beck /
Kaitlyn Beck (ULM), 21-10, 21-12
Match Notes:
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2
Georgia State ranked #14 in AVCA Beach Top 20
