HOUSTON – HCU beach volleyball opened the 2026 season with a 1-3 record at the Third Coast Collegiate Classic, defeating Tarleton State for the team's win at Third Coast Volleyball Club on Friday and Saturday.
The Huskies (1-3) opened with a 3-2 victory over Tarleton State before dropping a 5-0 decision to third-ranked Cal Polly on Friday. On Saturday, HCU fell in a 4-1 matchup to St. Mary's before falling a closely contested 3-2 final to Southern Miss.
In the win over Tarleton,
Sophia Sabol and
Dariya Tlevlessova picked up HCU's first point on court four, winning in three sets (21-17, 18-21, 15-8). On court three,
Grace Melnick and
Lauren Vickery earned the team's second point in two sets (21-11, 21-13). With the dual tied,
Alexa Landmark and
Olivia Zeigler earned the third, and final, point to secure the win in two sets (21-18, 21-18).
In the loss to Cal Poly, four of the five matches ended in two sets with
Allie Patton and
Mycah Whittemore taking their match on court five to three sets (6-21, 21-18, 15-3).
On Saturday, the Huskies' point came at the twos with Foor and Palmer winning, 21-18, 21-16. On court three, Melnick and Vickery dropped a three-set heartbreaker, 21-15, 19-21, 19-17.
Foor and Palmer picked up their second win of the day on Saturday against USM, battling for a win in three sets (17-21, 21-19, 15-10). Changing things up on court five,
Claudia Verdejo Lozano teamed with Whittemore for their own three-set victory (21-19, 18-21, 15-13).
HCU travels to Baton Rouge, La. for the LSU Tiger Beach Challenge on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28. The Huskies have matches against LSU, Tulane, North Alabama and UAB.
