ATLANTA, Ga. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team faced tough competition on the first day of the GSU Diggin' Duals at Georgia State University on Friday.
Eckerd (6-6) dropped a pair of contests to open the weekend to the University of Louisiana at Monroe, 4-1, and No. 8 Georgia State, 5-0. Both schools are Division I programs.
The Tritons' lone win of the day came in the No. 3 position against ULM as
Madison Whiting and
Arielle Erillo breezed past the tandem of Delaney Driver and Kori Simpson, 21-16 and 21-12.
Playing in the No. 2 spot,
Kali Boatwright and
Stephanie Bogda nearly took a point from the Warhawk duo of Hadley Swartz and Kaitlyn Shearer. The round went to three sets as Swartz and Shearer came from behind to post a 20-22, 21-14, 15-12 win.
The host Panthers lived up to their No. 8 ranking, taking each contest from Eckerd in straight sets.
The Tritons will play two more duals tomorrow facing two familiar opponents. EC opens the day against North Carolina-Wilmington before wrapping up against Lincoln Memorial.
ULM 4, Eckerd 11.     Pawlik/Zaeske def.
Tjasa Kotnik/
Kaitlyn Sibson: 21-17, 21-16
2.     Swartz/Shearer def.
Kali Boatwright/
Stephanie Bogda: 20-22, 21-14, 15-12
3.    Â
Madison Whiting/
Arielle Erillo def. Driver/Simpson: 21-12, 21-16
4.     Crossfield/Jenkins def.
Savanna Cary/
Rachel Cornatzer: 21-15, 21-15
5.     Hoffman/Griffith def.
Mackenzie Redner/
Gabriella Reis: 21-14, 25-23
Ext. Brown/McClendon def.
Maison Burr/
Haylee Bilbray: 21-11, 21-12
Georgia State 5, Eckerd 01.     Jansen Button/Sara Olivova def. Kotnik/Sibson: 21-13, 21-11
2.     Katelyn Rawls/Nina Interwies def. Whiting/Erillo: 21-8, 21-16
3.     Natalie Wilson/Brooke Weiner def. Boatwright/Bogda: 21-17, 21-6
4.     Delaney Rohan/Milani Pickering def. Cornatzer/Reis: 21-10, 21-10
5.     Alexis Townsend/Jessica Fourspring def. Cary/Redner: 21-14, 21-15
Ext. Chloe Cook/Allie Elson def. Bilbray/Burr: 21-11, 21-8
