SIESTA KEY, Fla. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team wrapped up the 2017 season over the weekend at the Fiesta on Siesta Invitational and the Rox Small College Championships on Siesta Key, winning five matches and taking runner-up in the small college division.
The five victories gave the Tritons (14-8) a new program record for the most in a season as the team continues to build upward after launching just three years ago.
Eckerd swept through the Fiesta pool of the small college division winning all four matches to earn the pool's top seed entering the elimination portion of the tournament on Sunday.
On Saturday, EC opened with a dominant 5-0 victory over Huntingdon (Ala.) as the Tritons posted straight-sets wins in all five draws. Â
Rachel Cornatzer and
Stephanie Bogda were particularly strong in the No. 4 spot, taking a 21-3 win in the first set and a 21-11 win in the second.
Eckerd then took 4-1 wins over Stevenson and San Diego City College to cap a perfect day.
Against SDCC, the Tritons got convincing wins from
Madison Whiting and
Kaitlyn Sibson at the No. 1 draw (21-5, 21-14) and from
Savanna Cary and
Mackenzie Redner at the No. 5 draw (21-8, 21-7).
Eckerd finished pool play on Sunday morning with a 5-0 win over Warner, then took care of Missouri Baptist by the same score while winning all five contests in straight sets to advance to the small college championship.
Webber International, however, spoiled Eckerd's bid to repeat as small college national champions, edging the Tritons in the finals, 3-2.
EC took wins at the No. 4 and 5 draws as Cary and Redner took a 21-16, 21-14 victory while Bogda and Cornatzer won 21-19, 21-17.
