The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Sand Volleyball Concludes Pairs Tournament
4/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Seniors Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas competed for the championship in the Southeast Sand Slam Gold Bracket to highlight the final day of competition on Saturday. The Blazers had six pairs in the tournament.
UAB (6-8) totaled five wins overall on the day. Hirini and Thomas won two after opening with a bye in the first round to advance all the way to the championship match.
The duo opened the day with a win over Georgia State's Rawls and Agnew, 21-19, 21-15, in the second round. In the third round, they had to come back against ULM's Araya and McNamee after dropping the first set 16-21, to win the next two. The Blazer pair won the second set 22-20 and advanced with an extended with in the third set, 21-19.
The championship match pitted Hirini and Thomas against Morello and Warren from College of Charleston, who took the win 21-19, 21-19 to win the Gold Bracket.
Seniors Rachel Fairbanks and Sara Rishell picked up a win in the first round over ULM's Culllum and Crossfield to move on to the second round, but was unable to advance further after a tough three-set loss to Dostalova and Pickering of Georgia State.
Also in the Gold Bracket were seniors Ally Slaughter and Leslie Ekpe. The duo fell in the first round, 21-17, 21-13, to Pawlik and Lindstrom of ULM. However they picked up a win in the consolation bracket over Cullum and Crossfield of ULM, 21-16, 24-22.
In the Silver Bracket, senior Becca Howard and freshman Avei Logoleo had the lone win for UAB. They combined for a three-set win over ULM's Arnason and Flores, 21-15, 18-21, 15-10. The pair fell to Fourspring and Interwies of Georgia State in the second round.
Sophomore Amber Treace and freshman Haley Jared won the first set 21-19, but Shearer and Zaeske of ULM fought back to win the next two and knock the Blazer pair out. Freshmen Anna-Mae Messisco and Gabbi Moreno had a first round bye, but fell to Georgia State's Bohannon and Townsend, 21-7, 21-14, in the second round.
UAB will return home to host its final home match of the season on Wednesday. The Blazers will take on Mercer at 12 p.m. CT at the UAB Sand Courts.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For sand volleyball news, follow @UABSandVBall.
