Tritons Rebound to Sweep Webber International

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team had a short turnaround after returning from the GSU Diggin' Duals over the weekend, but showed no signs of fatigue as the Tritons took both rounds of a dual with Webber International (Fla.) on Monday.

Eckerd took the final two matches to win the first round, 3-2, before closing the day with a 4-1 win in the second round.

The Tritons (8-8) got straight-sets wins in the top two positions in the morning to pull off the victory. Tjasa Kotnik and Kaitlyn Sibson made quick work of WIU's Sophie Rossard and Amanda Hayko (21-11, 21-18) in the No.1 spot as did Arielle Erillo and Madison Whiting in the No. 2 position against Nikki McDaniel and Alex Spadaro (21-18, 21-16).

Savanna Cary and Mackenzie Redner teamed up to record EC's first point of the day in the No. 5 position, breezing past Daniela Melo and Kalei Levy, 21-15 and 21-9.

In the second round, Eckerd had already clinched the win before the final two positions took the court after notching victories in the three, four and five spots.  Cary and Redner were perfect on the day with another straight-sets win over Melo and Levy (21-13, 21-17).  Kali Boatwright and Stephanie Bogda rebounded from a loss in the first round to get past Sabina Gerard and Sandra Skarkova in three sets (21-14, 24-26, 15-7) as did the tandem of Rachel Cornatzer and Gabriella Reis who defeated Lauren Dehls and Dawson Boese in three sets as well (21-23, 21-13, 15-7).

Kotnik and Sibson scored another dominating win in the second round over Rossard and Hayko, 21-12 and 21-7.

Eckerd returns to action on Wednesday, traveling to face Florida Atlantic University for two rounds beginning at 2:00 PM.

ECKERD 3, WEBBER INTERNATIONAL 2
1) Tjasa Kotnik/Kaitlyn Sibson (EC) def. Sophie Rossard/Amanda Hayko: 21-11, 21-18
2) Arielle Erillo/Madison Whiting (EC) def. Nikki McDaniel/Alex Spadaro: 21-18, 21-16
3) Lauren Dehls/Dawson Boese (WIU) def. Gabriella Reis/Rachel Cornatzer: 21-11, 23-25, 16-14
4) Sabina Gerard/Sandra Skarkova (WIU) def. Kali Boatwright/Stephanie Bogda: 21-15, 22-20
5) Savanna Cary/Mackenzie Redner (EC) def. Daniela Melo/Kalei Levy: 21-15, 21-9

ECKERD 4, WEBBER INTERNATIONAL 1
1) Tjasa Kotnik/Kaitlyn Sibson (EC) def.  Sophie Roussard/Amanda Hayko:  21-12, 21-7
2) Nikki McDaniel/Alex Spadaro (WIU) def. Arielle Erillo/Madison Whiting: 21-19, 21-14
3) Gabriella Reis/Rachel Cornatzer (EC) def. Lauren Dehls/Dawson Boese: 21-23, 21-13, 15-7
4) Kali Boatwright/Stephanie Bogda (EC) def. Sabina Gerard/Sandra Skarkova: 21-14, 24-26, 15-7
5) Savanna Cary/Mackenzie Redner (EC) def. Daniela Melo/Kalei Levy: 21-13, 21-17