GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team kicked off the AVCA Small College Championships on Thursday with a commanding 3-0 win over Wingate University (N.C.), before dropping the second match to Palm Beach Atlantic, 3-0. One Triton duo also took part in the Pairs Challenge, winning Pool E.

Eckerd (7-21) secured a 3-0 victory over Wingate (9-22), with each match concluding in straight sets. 

Addie White and Madison Hardbarger engaged in a tightly contested match against Bulldogs' Lilly DeLamielleure and Alyssa Maragelis, ultimately coming out on top with scores of 21-18 and 21-16. Emma Samuelson and Mariana Olivares-Cely took control early with a 21-14 win in the first set, then dominated the second with a 21-4 victory to secure the match. Sealing the sweep for the Tritons, Jessi Meghreblian and Marti Lu Boser fought through a tight first set and pulled away in the second, earning a 21-19, 21-16 win.

In their second match of the day, the Tritons fell to Palm Beach Atlantic (19-11) in a 3-0 decision.

Teagan VanderMey and Ella Kloepper put up a strong fight against Sailfish duo Camdyn Albrecht and Katelyn Nadeau, but ultimately came up short in straight sets, 21-15 and 21-18. The other two matches ended in straight-set losses for the Tritons.

Jocelyn Escoffery and Madison Proois represented the Tritons in the Pairs Challenge, taking on Eva Gomez and Riley Strickland from Truett McConnell University. The duo came out strong, earning a straight-set victory, 21-19 and 21-9. 

The Triton duo's second match against Reece Fisher and Emily Hon from Vanguard University ended just as decisively, with Escoffery and Prois claiming a dominant straight-set win, 21-12 and 21-10. This victory secured the overall Pairs Challenge title at the AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Championships, with Escoffery and Prois winning Pool E.

The Tritons return to action tomorrow, taking on Tampa in the opening round of the Challenge Round at 11:15 a.m CST. 

Results

Game One

Eckerd 3, Wingate 0

1. Brooke Hand and Anna Jupin (ECBVB) vs. Amelia Talbott and Lilou Thieme (WIN), unfinished

2. Teagan VanderMey and Ella Kloepper (ECBVB) vs. London Moultrie and Naomi Hilliard (WIN), unfinished

3. Addie White and Madison Hardbarger (ECBVB) def. Lilly DeLamielleure and Alyssa Maragelis (WIN) 21-18, 21-16

4. Emma Samuelson and Mariana OlivaresCely (ECBVB) def. Michaela Benfield and Peyton Culbreth (WIN) 21-14, 21-4

5. Jessi Meghreblian and Marti Lu Boser (ECBVB) def. Emma Brugh and Zelasia Edwards (WIN) 21-19, 21-16

Game Two

Palm Beach Atlantic University 3, Eckerd 0

1. Anna Dunbar and Serena Baumgart (PBA) vs. Brooke Hand and Anna Jupin (EC), unfinished

2.Camdyn Albrecht and Katelyn Nadeau (PBA) def. Teagan VanderMey and Ella Kloepper (EC) 21-15, 21-18

3. Abby Plevin and Annika Huhtamaki (PBA) vs. Addie White and Madison Hardbarger (EC) unfinished

4. Sydney Corbett and Savannah DeCarlo (PBA) def. Emma Samuelson and Mariana OlivaresCely (EC) 21-9, 21-16

5. Desi Waterman and Angela Goggin (PBA) def. Jessi Meghreblian and Marti Lu Boser (EC) 21-10, 21-15