HOUSTON – HBU swept Texas A&M-Kingsville in its first match, 5-0, then fell to seventh-ranked LSU in the evening on the first day of the HBU Beach Invitational Saturday at Third Coast Volleyball Club.
In the morning match, the Huskies (10-10) won all five matches and the exhibition against TAMU-K. HBU's No. 1 pair of senior
Jessica Wooten and sophomore
Aeriel Horton took care of Lexi Wick and Kelby Sprinkles, 21-19, 21-11, while the No. 2 tandem of freshman
Tori Hinojosa and senior
Kayla Armer cruised past Gabby Atchley and Kyra Henderson, 21-16, 21-14. At No. 3, senior
Melissa Fuchs and junior
Bailey Banks held off Morgan Broussard and Madison Brabham, 21-13, 20-22, 15-6. The No. 4 duo of seniors
Tiffany Thomas and
Taylor Livoti downed Kat Evans and Maelee Sowa, 21-16, 21-16 and the No. 5 pair of freshman
Danielle Wheeler and sophomore
Madison O'Brien defeated Haley Hutchinson and Kadi Shipman, 21-13, 21-14. In the exhibition, senior
Morgan McDaniel and freshman
Hannah Lewis needed three to slip past Taliah Phipps and Paige Lanam, 21-18, 21-23, 15-8.
LSU took all five against HBU in the evening. In the No. 1 match, which was shown on ESPN3, Wooten and Horton. Armer and Hinojosa fell to Emmy Allen and Lilly Kessler at No. 2, 21-16, 21-8, while Fuchs and Banks dropped a 21-12, 21-15 decision to Katie Lindelow and Olivia Powers at No. 3. At No. 4, Thomas and Livoti fell to Cati Leak and Maddie Ligon, 21-14, 21-11, while Wheeler and O'Brien fell to Megan Davenport and Callan Molle, 21-7, 21-14 at No. 5. In the exhibition, Taylor Bradley and Jenni Clark downed Lewis and McDaniel, 21-14, 21-10.
The HBU Beach Invitational concludes Sunday with the Huskies facing Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 1 p.m., followed by Tulane at 5 p.m. Tomorrow is also Senior Day for HBU's three graduate transfers
Tiffany Thomas,
Taylor Livoti and
Morgan McDaniel, who will be honored prior to the 1 p.m. match.
