SIESTA KEY, Fla. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team closed out its second season with a bang over the weekend at the Fiesta on Siesta Key tournament.
The Tritons blitzed through their competition to claim the first-ever small college division championship, going 4-0 for the weekend without losing a match.
Eckerd (12-10) started off on Saturday with wins over Principia (Ill.) College and Warner (Fla.) University, winning four of the five contests in each match in straight sets.
Sunday proved to be even better as elimination play began. The Tritons had no problems against Stevenson in the semifinals of the small college division, taking all five positions in straight sets. They then did the same to Warner in the championship match.
Tjasa Kotnik and
Kaitlyn Sibson continued their dominance in the No. 1 spot, not dropping a set the entire weekend. The duo finished the season with a record of 17-5.
Madison Whiting and
Arielle Erillo were also perfect for the weekend, taking eight straight sets, and closed the year with a record of 13-9.
The program made huge strides in just its second year of existence, leaving the prospects for the future bright for head coach
Michelle Piantadosi.
"We are so proud of the girls," she said. "They worked very hard and this was a goal they set at the beginning of the season. We are thrilled with what we have been able to accomplish this season."
