UAB Drops a Pair of Hard Fought Matches to Nationally Ranked Teams

Friday, March 1

Boca Raton, Fla.

8 a.m.

UAB

Florida State

UAB Drops a Pair of Hard Fought Matches to Nationally Ranked Teams

3/1/2019 7:23:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

FSU 4, UAB 1 USC 5, UAB 0

BOCA RATON, Fla. – On a day in which six of its 10 matches went three sets, the UAB beach volleyball team lost a pair of hard fought matches to two Top 10 teams in No. 5 Florida State and No. 10 South Carolina on Friday in Boca Raton.

The Blazers (4-2, 0-2 CCSA) opened the tournament with a 4-1 defeat to the Seminoles, and had a chance to spring the upsets on the final two courts in action. The afternoon match saw the Gamecocks defeat UAB 5-0 despite the action being much closer than the final score reflected.

"The girls played outstanding volleyball this morning vs. FSU to take a pair from one of the historically best programs in the country," head coach Kyra Iannone said. To have three more pairs go to a third set and have a chance at taking a huge win was something this program needs to be proud of. This morning, the girls proved they belong. With South Carolina, our girls needed to emotionally dig deep after the FSU performance, and this early in the season they just didn't go deep enough. We see South Carolina twice more this year and I do believe we will see a different team next time around."

NO. 5 FLORIDA STATE 4, UAB 1

After a perfect 4-0 mark last weekend to begin their collegiate careers, the freshman duo of Emma Andraka and Jenna Gathright picked up right where they left off by defeating FSU's Ashley Robert and Avery Poppinga, 22-20, 24-22. The win gave UAB 1-0 lead in the match and improved their record to a perfect 5-0.

Florida State evened the match at 1-1 with a three-set victory over Brittney Munro and Emily Martinez. After the Blazer duo took the opening set 21-19, the Seminole's pair of Sara Putt and Payton rallied in set two for a 21-12 victory and took the final set 15-5.

After a straight-set win on court two for Florida State gave the Seminoles a 2-1 lead in the match, UAB had a chance to record the school's biggest win in program history, but came up just short with three-set losses on courts one and three.

On court one, Kenley Adams and SalliAnne Napolitano lost the first set 21-12 to Alaina Chacon and Madison Fitzpatrick, but took the second set 21-15. In the third and decisive set, the Seminoles prevailed 15-9.

On court three, Tressa Buckland and Annie Pringle took the first set from Nikki Esposito and Kate Privett 21-18, but FSU won the final two 21-13 and 15-12 to secure the 4-1 team win. Both losses for Adams/Napolitano and Buckland/Pringle were their firsts of the season.

NO. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA 5, UAB 0

In the afternoon match, two of the five matches were decided in three sets, while courts one and five were two-point nail-biters in each set that eventually went the way of the Gamecocks.

On court five, Andraka and Gathright gave Avery Davis and Caroline Skaff all they could handle in a 24-22, 21-19 loss, and USC moved into courts 1-3 with a 2-0 lead after also winning on court four.

In the top flight, both courts two and three went three sets, while Adams and Napolitano lost on court one 21-19, 22-20 to Cadie Bates and Shannon Williams.

Court two saw Jayme Bratsberg and Jaelyn Keene take the first set 25-23, but then lost the second 21-15 and the third 15-10 to Katie Smith and Lydia Dimke.

The Blazers also took the first set on court three with Buckland/Pringle winning 21-19, but South Carolina's Carly Schnieder/Franky Harrison then took the final two 21-16 and 15-7.

UAB is back in action on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with matches against No. 18 Florida Atlantic and No. 4 LSU. Be sure to follow @UAB_BVB on Twitter and Instagram for updates.