Tritons Wrap Up Opening Weekend at Stetson Invitational

DELAND, Fla. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team wrapped up its opening weekend of the 2016 season on Sunday at the Stetson Invitational, dropping three matches on the final day of the event.

Eckerd (1-4) came up just short in 3-2 losses to both the College of Charleston (S.C.) and UNC-Wilmington and was swept by host No. 10 Stetson, 5-0.

Tjasa Kotnik and Kaitlyn Sibson continued their high level of play in the No. 1 position, winning their matches against Charleston and UNC-Wilmington.  The Triton duo dominated Charleston's Melissa Morello and Kayla Tronick, 21-10 and 21-15.  They then came from behind to defeat Bella Borgiotti and Katie McCullogh of UNC-W (13-21, 21-15, 15-8) to improve to 4-1 on the season.

Madison Whiting and Arielle Erillo notched their first victories of 2016, besting the Charleston tandem of Maddie Hillis and Katja Ehlers, 22-20 and 21-6, in the No. 2 spot before moving to No. 3 and scoring a three-set win (14-21, 29-27, 15-11) against Wilmington's Halle Hunt and Sarah Kelly.

The Tritons play their home opener on Friday, March 12, hosting Carson-Newman (Tenn.) at 10:00 AM.

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON DEF. ECKERD, 3-2
1. Kaitlyn Sibson/Tjasa Kotnik (EC) def. Melissa Morello/Kayla Tronick (COFC) 21-10, 21-15
2. Madison Whiting/Arielle Erillo (EC) def. Maddie Hills/Katja Ehlers (COFC) 22-20, 21-16
3. McKala Rhodes/Krissy Mummey (COFC) def. Gabriella Reis/Mackenzie Redner (EC) 21-15, 15-21, 15-13
4. Taylor Foley/Kennedy Madison (COFC) def. Kali Boatwright/Stephanie Bogda (EC) 21-13, 21-18
5. Devon Rachel/Allison Beckman (COFC) def. Savanna Cary/Rachel Cornatzer (EC) 21-19, 21-18
Ext. Lauren Hollman/Maren Braun (COFC) def. Maison Burr/Haylee Bilbray (EC) 21-19, 12-21, 15-11

#10 STETSON DEF. ECKERD, 5-0
1. Vendy Strakova/Sara Putt (STET) def. Tjasa Kotnik/Kaitlyn Sibson (EC) 21-15, 21-13
2. Kristin Lind/Rachel Noble (STET) def. Madison Whiting/Arielle Erillo (EC) 21-9, 21-19
3. Kaylee Anderson/Emily Carroll (STET) def. Mackenzie Redner/Gabriella Reis (EC) 21-7, 21-13
4. Madison Akins/Alexa Richardson (STET) def. Stephanie Bogda/Kali Boatwright (EC) 21-18, 21-6
5. Samantha Harris/Jamie Walsh (STET) def. Savanna Cary/Rachel Cornatzer (EC) 21-17, 21-17
Ext. Haley Tippett/Madison Tormey (STET) def. Haylee Bilbray/Maison Burr (EC) 21-10, 21-15

UNC-WILMINGTON DEF. ECKERD, 3-2
1. Tjasa Kotnik/Kaitlyn Sibson (EC) def. Bella Borgiotti/Katie McCullough (UNCW) 13-21, 21-15, 15-8
2. Kristen Powell/Nicole Lott (UNCW) def. Gabriella Reis/Mackenzie Redner (EC) 21-15, 21-10
3. Madison Whiting/Arielle Erillo (EC) def. Halle Hunt/Sarah Kelly (UNCW) 14-21, 29-27, 15-11
4. Maddy Kline/Sydney Alvis (UNCW) def. Savanna Cary/Rachel Cornatzer (EC) 15-21, 21-16, 15-9
5. Bethany Gesell/Courtney Mullinax (UNCW) def. Kali Boatwright/Stephanie Bogda (EC) 20-22, 21-11, 15-7
Ext. Anna Moss/Alyssa Desardins (UNCW) def. Maison Burr/Haylee Bilbray (EC) 21-12, 21-13