SAINT LEO, Fla.- The Eckerd beach volleyball team opened its season with a tri-match at Saint Leo Saturday afternoon, defeating Warner (Fla.), 4-1, in the opening match before narrowly falling to the hosts by a score of 3-2.
In the opening match, the Tritons jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage over the Royals after collecting wins in the No. 4 and No. 5 draws. Izabela Gorys and Sam Crankshaw breezed past Miranda Manduley and Yelika Hernandez, 21-5, in the first set before taking the second set, 24-22, playing out of the No. 5 slot. The duo of Agata Sklepik and Dana Dull won by scores of 21-18 and 21-17 in the No. 4 pairing.
The tandem of Joelle Coulter and Serena Baumgart dominated in the No. 2 slot, winning by scores of 21-10, 21-7. Manaia Rewi and Martina Melicherova paired out of the No 3 draw to collect EC's final point with a 21-6, 22-20 victory.
Nicki Bechtold and Tiani Bello picked up an extra win, 21-17 and 22-20, for the Tritons playing in an exhibition match.
Eckerd (1-1) took a 2-0 lead again in the second match as Dull and Sklepik (23-21, 21-17) in the No. 4 slot and Gorys and Crankshaw (21-17, 21-19) in the No. 5 draw both took straight-set victories. However, Saint Leo responded to even the score at 2-2 with wins in the No. 1 and 2 spots.
Rewi and Melicherova and SLU's Ally-Reese Williams and Lina Russo battled back-and-forth in a three-set thriller for the deciding point. The Lions took the opening set 21-17 before Rewi and Melicherova took the marathon second set, 30-28. Saint Leo took the match with a 16-14 win in the third set.
"Although we would have like to pull out the win against Saint Leo today, it's super exciting that this is our starting point for the season," said head coach Michelle Piantadosi-Lima. "We have a lot to work on, and I am confident that we will continue to improve from here."
Eckerd returns to action next Friday as they head to the Tampa Invitational. They play Jacksonville at 9:00 AM and Mercer at 2:00 PM.
Eckerd 4, Warner 1
1. Alexandra Gonzalez/Lauren Ruby (WARNER) def. Anna Jungjohann/Kitana Lim (ECBVB) 21-10, 21-15
2. Joelle Coulter/Serena Baumgart (ECBVB) def. Brianna Howard/Alyssa Muench (WARNER) 21-10, 21-7
3. Manaia Rewi/Martina Melicherova (ECBVB) def. Savanah Griffin/Kennedy Lane (WARNER) 21-6, 22-20
4. Agata Sklepik/Dana Dull (ECBVB) def. Adeline Anthony/Madison Hughes (WARNER) 21-18, 21-17
5. Izabela Gorys/Sam Crankshaw (ECBVB) def. Miranda Manduley/Yelika Hernandez (WARNER) 21-5, 34-22
Saint Leo 3, Eckerd 2
1. Brooke Turner/Nina Vattovaz (SLU) def. Anna Jungjohann/Serena Baumgart (ECBVB) 21-15, 21-18
2. Arlaina Stephenson/Sydney Omtvedt (SLU) def. Joelle Coulter/Kitana Lim (ECBVB) 21-12, 21-11
3. Ally-Reese Williams/Lina Russo (SLU) def. Manaia Rewi/Martina Melicherova (ECBVB) 21-17, 28-30, 16-14
4. Dana Dull/Agata Sklepik (ECBVB) def. A. Fredette-Huffman/Marissa Rakauskas (SLU) 23-21, 21-17
5. Izabela Gorys/Sam Crankshaw (ECBVB) def. Kirsten Kaiser/Amber Lake (SLU) 21-17, 21-19
