Eckerd Falls in Back-to-Back Matches at Stetson Invitational

DELAND, Fla. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team opened their season at the Stetson Invitational on Friday, falling 4-1 to Stephen F. Austin (Texas) and 5-0 to Mercer University (Ga.) in a pair of tough contests.

In the opener, Eckerd (0-2) fought hard in the No. 5 draw where Maddie Prois and Jocelyn Escoffery won the first set 21-13, but then narrowly dropped the second set 21-17. They rallied back to win set three 15-12, marking the first career win for Prois. 

Stephen F. Austin (2-0) took the rest of the games for the 4-1 win.

In the second contest of the day, Mercer University (1-1) secured two straight-set victories. In the No. 1 draw, Anna Jupin and Addie White dropped the first set narrowly, 24-22, but responded with a comeback to win the second set 21-18. They fell in the third set 15-5.

Freshman duo Ella Kloepper and Marti Lu Boser put up a good fight in the fourth pairing to win the second set of their match 21-16, but ultimately Mercer pulled away 15-11 in the third set. Mercer swept Eckerd 5-0 on the day. 

Eckerd returns Saturday for day two of the Stetson Invitational, facing Stetson University (Fla.) at 11:00 AM and University of Nebraska at 2:00 PM.

Results

Game One

Stephen F. Austin 4, Eckerd 1

1. Katie Hansen/Tessa Rogers (SFA) def. Anna Jupin/Addie White (ECK) 21-13, 21-19

2. Kelly Johnson/Elaina Amador (SFA) def. Brooke Hand/Madison Hardbarger (ECK) 21-18, 19-21, 17-15

3. Lizzie Denyer/Jennah Atchley (SFA) def. Emma Samuelson/Teagan VanderMey (ECK) 21-18, 21-19

4. Olivia Zeigler/Ashley Boswell (SFA) def. Ella Kloepper/Marti Lu Boser (ECK) 21-14, 21-15

5. Maddie Prois/Jocelyn Escoffery (ECK) def. Kylie Golden/Savannah Johnson (SFA) 21-13, 17-21, 15-12

Game Two

Mercer 5, Eckerd 0

1. Lexi Polychrones/Hollis Engel (MER) def. Anna Jupin/Addie White (ECK) 24-22, 18-21, 15-5

2. Kate Hardie/Jordan Paddock (MER) def. Brooke Hand/Madison Hardbarger (ECK) 21-18, 21-11

3. Sydney Benson/Liv Diaz (MER) def. Teagan VanderMey/Emma Samuelson (ECK) 21-14, 21-10

4. Kathryn Corbett/Nicole O'Mara (MER) def. Ella Kloepper/Marti Lu Boser (ECK) 21-16, 16-21, 15-11

5. Reese Hood/Grace Rathburn (MER) def. Maddie Prois/Jocelyn Escoffery (ECK) 15-21, 21-13, 15-8