UAB Splits on Opening Day of March to May in Gulf Shores

Friday, March 8

Gulf Shores, Ala.

9 a.m.

UAB

Tulane

UAB Splits on Opening Day of March to May in Gulf Shores

3/8/2019 5:40:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The UAB beach volleyball team split a pair of matches on Friday to open the inaugural March to May with a 4-1 victory over Southern Miss and a 4-1 loss to Tulane at The Hangout in Gulf Shores.

The Blazers (5-5, 1-5 CCSA) opened the day with a loss to the Green Wave as Jenna Gathright and Emma Andraka improved to 6-3 overall with a victory on court five over Gabby Becerra and Morgan Esters, 21-14, 21-19, but that was the only UAB pair to win against the Green Wave.

Two of the other four matches went three sets as Kenley Adams and SalliAnne Napolitano fell to Tulane's Rio Frohoff/Lauren Orlich 21-17, 19-21, 15-12, while Brittney Munro and Emily Martinez took the first set over Haley Gibson and Ellie Leitko 21-19, but the Green Wave rallied to win 21-13 in the second and 15-10 in the third and decisive set.

In the second match, which was the first-ever contest between UAB and Southern Miss in program history, the Blazers topped the Golden Eagles 4-1 for their first CCSA win of the season.

Senior duo of Jaelyn Keene and Jayme Bratsberg recorded their first court one victory of the season with a 21-15, 24-22 triumph over USM's Kylie Grandy and Lindsey Legg.

Adams and Napolitano rallied after the morning loss to win their second match of the day with a 21-17, 21-13 victory on court two over Abbey Wilson and Cyan Blackdeer. On court three, Tressa Buckland and Annie Pringle cruised to a 21-14, 21-13 decision over Piper Matsumoto and Kellie Garraway.

Court four went the way of the Golden Eagles, but playing in their first career collegiate match, the Stansel twins of Ashlee and Brooke were victorious on court five, 21-12, 21-6, over Jessica Austin and Lindsey Smith.

There is a full slate of action in Gulf Shores on Saturday, but the Blazers are off until Sunday when they take on Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Houston Baptist. Be sure to follow @UAB_BVB on Twitter and Instagram for continuous updates.

Tulane 4, UAB 1
Court 1: Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (Tulane): def. Jaelyn Keene/Jayme Bratsberg (UAB): 21-18, 21-18
Court 2: Rio Frohoff/Lauren Orlich (Tulane) def. Kenley Adams/Salli Napolitano (UAB): 21-17, 19-21, 15-12
Court 3: Tarin Mergener/Addie Hermstad (Tulane) def. Tressa Buckland/Annie Pringle (UAB): 21-17, 21-12
Court 4: Haley Gibson/Ellie Leitko (Tulane) def. Brittney Munro/Emily Martinez (UAB): 19-21, 21-13, 15-10
Court 5: Emma Andraka/Jenna Gathright (UAB) vs. Gabby Becerra/Morgan Esters (Tulane): 21-14, 21-19

UAB 4, Southern Miss 1
Court 1: Jaelyn Keene/Jayme Bratsberg (UAB) def. Kylie Grandy/Lindsey Legg (SM): 21-15, 24-22
Court 2: Kenley Adams/Salli Napolitano (UAB) def. Abbey Wilson/Cyan Blackdeer (SM): 21-17, 21-13
Court 3: Tressa Buckland/Annie Pringle (UAB) def. Piper Matsumoto/Kellie Garraway (SM): 21-15, 21-14
Court 4: Olivia Hepworth/Breleigh Favre (SM) def. Emma Andraka/Jenna Gathright (UAB): 23-21, 23-21
Court 5: Ashlee Stansel/Brooke Stansel (UAB) def. Jessica Austin/Lindsey Smith (SM) 21-12, 21-6