NEW ORLEANS, La. – On the opening day of the three-day Southland Conference Mid-Season Tournament, the HCU beach team split a pair of duals with a loss to Boise State before defeating Southeastern at Privateer Beach on Friday.
The first match of the three-day event started for HCU (3-17, 2-1 SLC) against a Boise State (16-7, 3-0 SLC) with the Huskies dropping a 4-1 decision to the Broncos. HCU's point in the dual came from the No. 3 pair of
Paige Palmer and
Audrey Pearce with the duo winning in three sets (21-19, 16-21, 15-12).
Later in the afternoon, the Huskies took a 3-2 decision over the Lady Lions (7-8, 1-2 SLC). Palmer and Pearce won for the second time on the day and for the third-straight match at the threes, finishing their opponents off in straight sets (21-14, 21-19). The Huskies' No. 4 pair,
Mary Alper and
Gabi Axelrod, also won in two sets (24-22, 21-17) while
Kylann Griffith and
Tatum Lockhardt earned a two-set victory (21-12, 21-13) at the fives. No. 1 pair
Abbey Bufkin and
Kristen Kleymeyer fell in three sets (18-21, 21-12, 15-12) while the Huskies' No. 2 pairing of
Kristin Gilmour and
Rachel Heilbrun also suffered a three-set defeat (17-21, 21-18, 15-12).
HCU is now a perfect 6-0 all-time against Southeastern.
The Huskies face McNeese and San Jose State on Saturday, Mar. 23, at Privateer beach with the Cowgirls up first at 8:00 a.m. followed by the Spartans at 1:15 p.m.
