The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Florida State
Sand Volleyball Tops Carson-Newman Saturday
3/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The UAB sand volleyball won one of its two matches on the first day of the South Carolina Tournament held in Columbia, S.C. on Friday. The Blazers picked up a win over Carson-Newman, 5-0.
UAB (2-4) started the day strong with a sweep of Carson-Newman in its first of two matches. The Blazers won at all five positions and picked up a win in exhibition.
At the No. 1 spot, seniors Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas topped Rachel Harper and Jenna Wilson in straight sets, 21-13, 21-19. Seniors Leslie Ekpe and Ally Slaughter combined for their first win at the No. 2 position, cruising to a 21-12, 21-9 win over Taylor Lowe and Sara Fairley.
Also picking up a win in straight sets were seniors Rachel Fairbanks and Sara Rishell. The duo topped Kristina Hill and Kristen Pickett, 21-10, 21-8. Freshmen Anna-Mae Messisco and Gabbi Moreno dropped the first set, but rebounded to win the next two for a win at the No. 4 position.
Senior Becca Howard and freshman Avei Logoleo won their fourth match as a pair at the No. 5 spot. The duo defeated Anna Patton and Lauren Santarelli, 21-10, 21-13. Sophomore Emma Schroer and freshman Haley Jared also picked up a win in exhibition, 21-9, 21-12.
The Blazers then had to face No. 4 ranked Florida State, but fell, 5-0. All five matches were decided by straight sets. Hirini and Thomas fell, 21-18, 21-14 at the No. 1 spot. Slaughter and Ekpe dropped their match as the No. 2 position, 21-9, 21-15. Fairbanks and Rishell fell at No. 3, 21-17, 21-18.
Messisco and Moreno lost 21-13, 21-14 at the No. 4 slot and Howard and Logoleo fell, 21-15, 21-16 at the No. 5 spot.
Results
UAB 5, Carson-Newman 0
No. 1: Hirini/Thomas (UAB) def. Harper/Wilson (Carson-Newman), 21-13, 21-19
No. 2: Ekpe/Slaughter (UAB) def. Lowe/Fairley (Carson-Newman), 21-12, 21-9
No. 3: Fairbanks/Rishell (UAB) def. Hill/Pickett (Carson-Newman), 21-10, 21-8
No. 4: Messisco/Moreno (UAB) def. Wells/Harlan (Carson-Newman), 13-21, 21-19, 15-7
No. 5: Howard/Logoleo (UAB) def. Patton/Santarelli (Carson-Newman), 21-10, 21-13
Exhibition: Schroer/Jared (UAB) def. Anderson/O'Neal (Carson-Newman), 19-21, 21-16, 15-5.
Florida State 5, UAB 0
No. 1: Pellitteri/Paranagua (FSU) def. Hirini/Thomas (UAB), 21-8, 21-14
No. 2: Wickstrom/Sanchez (FSU) def. Slaugther/Ekpe (UAB), 21-9, 21-15
No. 3: Brown/Pavels (FSU) def. Fairbanks/Rishell (UAB), 21-17, 21-18
No. 4: Montgomery/Freire (FSU) def. Messisco/Moreno (UAB), 21-13, 21-14
No. 5: Nyquist/Plessy (FSU) def. Howard/Logoleo (UAB), 21-15, 21-16
Exhibition: Harkness/Joyce (FSU) def. Schroer/Jared (UAB), 21-9, 21-12
