UAB Beach Volleyball Splits on Opening Day of 2020 Season

Saturday, February 22

Birmingham, AL

10 a.m.

UAB

North Alabama

UAB Beach Volleyball Splits on Opening Day of 2020 Season

2/22/2020 5:17:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

UAB 3, North Alabama 2 Tulane 4, UAB 1

BIRMINGHAM – Led by Kenley Adams and Abbey Thorup on court one, the UAB beach volleyball team split a pair of matches on its opening day of the 2020 season with North Alabama and Tulane.

The Blazers (1-1, 0-1 CCSA) defeated North Alabama 3-2 in the first game of the day, but fell to conference foe Tulane 4-1 in their afternoon match. Adams and Thorup won both of their matches, including defeating Tulane's preseason All-CCSA selection Kaylie McHugh.

UAB topped UNA with wins on courts one, three and five. On court five, Jenna Gathright and Brooke Stansel gave the Blazers their first point with a straight set 21-13, 21-16 victory over Gensis Benitez and Sam Shafer.

UNA evened the match at 2-2 with a victories on courts four and two, and with all eyes on court three, junior SalliAnne Napolitano and freshman Arden Copping gave UAB the victory with a three-set triumph over Ava Carney and MacKenzie Martin, 21-17, 20-22, 15-10.

In the afternoon match, Tulane won the first four matches all in straight sets. Adams and Thorup's lone victory came in three sets as UAB's top duo ran away with the final set and ultimately won 21-18, 20-22, 15-8.

UAB is back in action next weekend with the Blazer Beach Bash, Feb. 28-29, and welcomes ULM, Eastern Kentucky, Nicholls State and Coastal Carolina.

UAB 3, NORTH ALABAMA 2

Court 1: Kenley Adams/Abbey Thorup (UAB) def. Maya Dickson/Taylor Seney (UNA): 21-16, 21-12
Court 2: Paula Klemperer/Natalie Kordt (UNA) def. Emma Andraka/Brittney Munro (UAB): 21-12, 18-21, 15-8
Court 3: Arden Copping/Salli Napolitano (UAB) def. Ava Carnley/MacKenzie Martin (UNA): 21-17, 20-22, 15-10
Court 4: Libby Jump/Joise Maldonado (UNA) def. Ella Alexander/Annie Pringle (UAB): 21-15, 21-19
Court 5: Jenna Gathright/Brooke Stansel (UAB) def. Genesis Benitez/Sam Shafer (UNA): 21-13, 21-16

TULANE 5, NORTH ALABAMA 0

Court 1: Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (Tulane) def. Maya Dickson/Taylor Seney (UNA): 21-15, 21-16
Court 2: Tarin Mergener/Kendall Peters (Tulane) def. Paula Klemperer/Natalie Kordt (UNA): 21-18, 21-17
Court 3: Ashton Mares/Ellie Leitko (Tulane) def. Ava Carnley/MacKenzie Martin (UNA): 21-19, 21-12
Court 4: Addison Hermstad/Samantha Mehlman (Tulane) def. Libby Jump/Joise Maldonado (UNA): 21-19, 21-16
Court 5: Rio Frohoff/Gabby Becerra (Tulane) def. Genesis Benitez/Sam Shafer (UNA): 22-20, 21-16

TULANE 4, UAB 1

Court 1: Kenley Adams/Abbey Thorup (UAB) def. Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (Tulane): 21-18, 20-22, 15-8
Court 2: Tarin Mergener/Kendall Peters (Tulane) def. Emma Andraka/Brittney Munro (UAB): 21-14, 21-9
Court 3: Ashton Mares/Ellie Leitko (Tulane) def. Arden Copping/Salli Napolitano (UAB): 21-11, 21-14
Court 4: Addison Hermstad/Samantha Mehlman (Tulane) def. Ella Alexander/Annie Pringle (UAB): 21-7, 21-16
Court 5: Rio Frohoff/Gabby Becerra (Tulane) def. Jenna Gathright/Brooke Stansel (UAB): 21-13, 21-19