GULF SHORES, Alabama – The HBU beach volleyball team dropped a 5-0 decision to Tulane in the morning, then were downed by Florida Atlantic, 4-1, in the afternoon to close out the Badger Beach Bash hosted by Spring Hill College.
"Our team made some big strides today against some seasoned opponents," HBU associate head coach
Cameron Sitler said. "The opening weekend allowed us to showcase the growth our program has made in two years. This week gives our team a chance to develop in practice and more match play against opponents of varying skill levels."
In the morning against Tulane, the Huskies' no. 1 duo of sophomore
Aeriel Horton and senior
Jessica Wooten were edged by Tulane's Maddy Mertz and Lan Nguyen, 21-18, 24-26, 15-7. The Green Waves' no. 2 tandem of Tea Juric and Kaylie McHugh downed the Huskies' team of freshman
Tori Hinojosa and senior
Kayla Armer, 21-7, 21-13. In the no. 3 match, Tulane's Briana Correra defeated HBU senior
Melissa Fuchs and junior
Bailey Banks, 21-12, 21-9. In the no. 4 spot, Tulane's Hannah Holmes and Sarah Stroner clamed a 21-10, 21-15 decision over HBU's senior
Taylor Livoti and freshman
Danielle Wheeler, while the Green Wave's Christina McAfee and Annie Schurtz defeated the Huskies' seniors
Morgan McDaniels and
Tiffany Thomas, 21-10, 21-15. HBU won the alternate match, with sophomore
Madison O'Brien and freshman
Hannah Lewis topping Tulane's Anna Chin and Lindsey Huber, 19-21, 25-23, 15-10.
In the afternoon against FAU, Hinojosa and Armer were victorious at the no. 2 spot against Brittany Pellitteri and Jazmine Barker, 21-13, 21-16. The Owls' Megan Rice and Jessalyn Kinlaw defeated Wooten and Horton at no. 1, 21-17, 21-7. FAU's Gabby Dischler and Candace Lacour got past Banks and Fuchs, 23-21, 21-18 at no. 3, while the Owls' Nichole Navarro and Nicole Grant defeated Wheeler and Livoti, 21-19, 21-13 at no. 4. In the no. 5 match, FAU's Julia Lewkowicz and Ashlan Cunningham took a 21-12, 22-20 result over Thomas and McDaniels. In the alternate match, O'Brien and Lewis fell to FAU's Maja Ristic and Sam Gott, 21-14, 21-12.
The Huskies return to action when they go on the road to face Texas A&M-Kingsville Tuesday.
