TAMPA, Fla. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team dropped a pair of contests on the final day of the Tampa Invitational on Saturday.
Eckerd (2-4) began the day falling to Tampa, 5-0, in the first match before dropping a 4-1 decision to Florida Gulf Coast University in the afternoon.
The Tritons faced a tough battle against Tampa (3-5), nearly coming away with a point out of the No. 4 draw. The duo of Manaia Rewi and Martina Melicherova bounced back from a 21-16 first set loss to take the second set 21-18. In the decisive third set, Rewi and Melicherova battled back-and-forth with UT's Madison Brunick and Kiersten Anderson, extending the set to extra points, ultimately falling 20-18.
EC picked up the first point of the match against FGCU (4-0) as the tandem of Rewi and Melicherova posted a straight-sets victory over the Eagles' Madie Lichty and Emma Hansen.
The Tritons nearly picked up another point as Sam Crankshaw and Izabela Gorys battled in the No. 5 draw, ultimately falling in three sets.
Eckerd looks to bounce back next weekend as they travel to Jacksonville for the University of North Florida Invitational. EC faces the University of North Alabama and the University of North Florida on Saturday with matches slated for 9:45 and 11:30 AM, respectively.
Tampa 5, Eckerd 0
1. Julia Oswald/Rachel Rosequist (UT) def. Anna Jungjohann/Serena Baumgart (ECBVB) 21-16, 21-9
2. Valerie Rosequist/Melissa Elias (UT) def. Joelle Coulter/Katana Lim (ECBVB) 21-14, 21-13
3. Tatiana Gutierrez/Katie McKiel (UT) def. Agata Sklepik/Dana Dull (ECBVB) 21-17, 21-12
4. Madison Brunick/Kiersten Anderson (UT) def. Manaia Rewi/Martina Melicherova (ECBVB) 21-16, 18-21, 20-18
5. Payton Brunick/Cassidy Ehrie (UT) def. Sam Crankshaw/Izabela Gorys (ECBVB) 21-19, 21-14
Ext. Selina Pfuner/Claire Overton (UT) def. Tiani Bello/Nicole Perekhodko (ECBVB) 21-16, 21-15
FGCU 4, Eckerd 1
1. Giovanna Borgiotti/Kirstine Garder (FGCU) def. Anna Jungjohann/Serena Baumgart (ECBVB) 21-14, 21-17
2. Kayla Whetstone/Kacie Johnson (FGCU) def. Joelle Coulter/Katana Lim (ECBVB) 21-16, 21-17
3. Lexie Hamilton/Maddison Parmelly (FGCU) def. Agata Sklepik/Dana Dull (ECBVB) 21-12, 21-14
4. Martina Melicherova/Manaia Rewi (ECBVB) def. Madie Lichty/Emma Hansen (FGCU) 21-16, 21-18
5. Trinity Rosales/Jenna Banz (FGCU) def. Sam Crankshaw/Izabela Gorys (ECBVB) 21-19, 19-21, 15-12
