HOUSTON – The HBU beach volleyball team began the day by blanking Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, then fell to Tulane, which is just outside the nation's top 15 teams, to conclude play at the HBU Beach Invitational Sunday at Third Coast Volleyball.
In the first match, the Huskies (11-11) swept TAMU-CC, 5-0, with five two-set victories. Senior
Jessica Wooten and sophomore
Aeriel Horton dominated Brittany Gilpin and Madison Green at No. 1, 21-2, 21-9. At No. 2, senior
Kayla Armer and freshman
Tori Hinojosa downed Madison Woods and Morgan Carlson, 21-15, 21-19. Senior
Melissa Fuchs and junior
Bailey Banks took care of Kelsee Felux and Mallory Moran, 21-19, 21-11, at No. 3, while seniors
Tiffany Thomas and
Taylor Livoti cruised past Morgan Williams and Kristyn Nicholson, 21-12, 21-12, at No. 4. Sophomore
Madison O'Brien and freshman
Danielle Wheeler put away Claire Karsten and Naomi Overstreet, 21-16, 21-10, at No. 5.
In the late afternoon match, Wooten and Horten claimed the No. 1 match over Tulane's Maddy Mertz and Lan Nguyen, 21-15, 21-19. Armer and Hinojosa fell at No. 2 to Tea Juric and Kaylie McHugh, 21-14, 21-14. Fuchs and Banks pushed Annie Shurtz and Tarin Mergener, but were edged in three sets, 19-21, 21-10, 15-13. At No. 4, Hannah Holmes and Sarah Strasner downed Thomas and Livoti, 21-11, 21-18, and Anna Chin and Christian McAfee took the No. 5 spot over O'Brien and Wheeler, 21-12, 21-17.
The Huskies at the UCA Beach Tournament April 21-22, then wrap up the season with a pair of matches in New Orleans April 29.
