Eckerd Splits on Day Two of AVCA Championships

TAVARES, Fla. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team competed at day two of the AVCA Small College Championships with matches against Carson-Newman (Tenn.) and McKendree (Ill.). The Tritons split the matches, falling to Carson-Newman 3-2 before completing a 3-0 sweep over McKendree on Saturday.

The Tritons barely dropped their first cross-pool match in a split-decision loss to Carson Newman. Dana Dull and Joelle Coulter cruised in the No. 2 spot, winning their match 21-13, 21-14. 

The Tritons dropped set one of the fifth flight 21-7 before Sofia Romigh and Mariana OIivares-Cely rallied in two straight sets 21-17 and 15-13. 

Nicki Bechtold and Martina Melicherova came close in the third pairing, rallying back from a 21-16 loss to take set two 21-17. A close third set saw the pair fall 15-11, for Eckerd to drop the match 3-2. 

After a close cross-pool match, Eckerd picked up its first win of the tournament with a 3-0 sweep over McKendree. The Tritons top pairing of Agata Sklepik and Kitana Lim picked up their first win of the championships as well, 21-8, 21-10. 

Dull and Coulter were 2-for-2 on the day, defeating Lauren McCurley and Amber Williams 21-13, 21-9.  Romigh and Olivares-Cely joined them, going 2-for-2 on the day, with a dominant 21-8, 21-6 victory in the fifth flight for the Tritons to complete the sweep. 

Jocelyn Escoffery and Teegan VanderMay competed in the pairs challenge with a split 1-1 record on the day. The duo defeated Ottowa KS 21-7, 21-11 in their first match, and fell to Palm Beach Atlantic 21-7, 21-8. 

The Tritons continue at the AVCA Championship tomorrow, competing in the Bronze A pool. They are set to play Wayne State (Neb.) at 8:00 AM and Tusculum (Tenn.) at 1:00 PM. 

CARSON NEWMAN 3, ECKERD 2

1. Jordyn Anderson/Riley Rushing (TU) def. Agata Sklepik/Kitana Lim (ECK) 21-16, 21-16
2. Dana Dull/Joelle Coulter (ECK) def. Emma Johnson/Hannah Marsh 21-13, 21-9
3. Kassidy Mercado/Morgan Paccione (TU) def. Nicki Bechtold/Martina Melicherova (ECK) 21-19, 21-16
4. Charlyn Miller/Katherine McLamb def. Addie White/Anna Jupin (ECK) 21-11, 21-12
5. Sophia Romigh/Mariana Olivares-Cely (ECK) def. Landry Tea/Kyla Oppenhuis 21-13, 21-17

ECKERD 3, MCKENDREE 0 

1.Agata Sklepik/Kitana Lim (ECK) def. Michelle Ramirez/Maddie Misner 21-8, 21-10
2. Dana Dull/Joelle Coulter (ECK) def. Lauren McCurley/Amber Williams 21-13, 21-9
5. Sophia Romigh/Mariana Olivares-Cely (ECK) def. Kloi Karban/Brynne Luebbers 21-8, 21-6