DELAND, Fla. - Facing its third nationally-ranked opponent in two days, the Eckerd beach volleyball team wrapped up a challenging opening weekend at the Stetson Spring Fling.
The Tritons lost to No. 12 Georgia State, 4-1, at the Cooper Beach Courts.
The tandem of
Kaitlyn Sibson and
Paula Hoffmann shined again at the No. 3 draw, outlasting the Georgia State pair of Ashley McGinn and Allie Elson in a three-set thriller. GSU took the opening set, 21-19, before Sibson and Hoffmann controlled the second on the way to a 21-15 win. In a back-and-forth third set, the Triton duo eventually prevailed, 17-15.
Stephanie Bogda and
Kali Boatwright nearly won another point for Eckerd at the No. 5 spot. Â The senior pair won the first set from Eden Hawes and Ashley Bauchert, 21-10, but the Panthers took the second, 21-18. Â The decisive third set went down to the wire with Hawes and Bauchert surviving with a 15-13 win.
Georgia State won the remaining three matches by 2-0 scores.
Eckerd returns to the sand next weekend hosting the Second Annual Battle of the Bay at the North Shore Courts in downtown St. Petersburg.
#12 GEORGIA STATE 4, ECKERD 1
1. Teegan Van Gunst/Tiffany Creamer (GSU) def.
Savanna Cary/
Mackenzie Redner (EC) 21-9, 21-19
2. Annika Van Gunst/Brooke Weiner (GSU) def.
Madison Whiting/
Arielle Erillo (EC) 21-12, 21-12
3.
Paula Hoffmann/
Kaitlyn Sibson (EC) def. Ashley McGinn/Allie Elson (GSU) 19-21, 21-15, 17-15
4. Rebekah Brodbeck/Amie Held (GSU) def.
Rachel Cornatzer/
Jordan Duffy (EC) 21-16, 21-10
5. Eden Hawes/Ashley Bauchert (GSU) def.
Stephanie Bogda/
Kali Boatwright (EC) 21-10, 18-21, 15-13
Ext. Mattie Johnson/Meagan McCall (GSU) def.
Fernanda Reis/
Samantha Bevilacqua (EC) 21-17, 21-7
