UAB Beach Volleyball Splits on Day One of Green Wave Invitational

Friday, February 26

New Orleans, La.

10:30 a.m.

UAB

Utah

UAB Beach Volleyball Splits on Day One of Green Wave Invitational

2/26/2021 5:21:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB beach volleyball team swept Utah 5-0 and lost to Tulane 4-1 on the opening day of the 2021 season at the Green Wave Invitational in New Orleans.

The Blazers (1-1) handled the Utes with ease as every UAB pair won in straight sets. In the afternoon match, which was UAB's first CCSA contest of the season, the Blazers were edged by the Green Wave on courts 1-4, but SalliAnne Napolitano and Sarah Dickson recorded a win on court five.

"I am very proud of the team for coming out of the gates and getting our first sweep of the season over Utah," said head coach Terri Del Conte, who recorded her first victory as a Blazer. "We unfortunately didn't have the same success in our second match, but it just made us more fired up to finish day two strong. I believe in this team and everything we are creating as a program."

UAB improved to 2-0 all-time against Utah by dominating in its first match of the season. Along with every pair winning in straight sets, Mikayla Law Hesse and Rachel Tam on court one, Emma Andraka and Adriana Pereira on court two and Napolitano and Arden Copping on court five all held their opponents to single digits in one of the two sets.

After playing with Copping against Utah, Napolitano partnered with Sarah Dickson on court five in the second match against Tulane and registered a 24-22, 21-17 victory Ashton Mares and Maddie Speicher.

Courts 1-3 were straight set victories for Tulane, while Annie Pringle and Ella Alexander won the first set on court four 22-20, but fell in the remaining two 21-18, 15-11.

The Blazers are back in action tomorrow with two more matches against New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana.

UAB 5, Utah 0
Court 1: Rachel Tam and Mikayla Heese (UAB) def. Keana Smalls and Sage Patchell (Utah) 21-14, 21-9
Court 2: Emma Andraka and Adriana Pereira (UAB) def. Grace Andrews and Marissa Koch (Utah) 21-7, 21-12
Court 3: Dylynn Otte and Jenna Gathright (UAB) def. Olivia Teerlink and Camille Lee (Utah) 21-11, 21-16
Court 4: Annie Pringle and Ella Alexander (UAB) def. Mia Kowalczyk and Joana Saucedo Mondragon (Utah) 21-10, 21-12
Court 5: Sallianne Napolitano and Arden Copping (UAB) def. Macy Rideout and Hannah Stahle (Utah) 21-18, 21-9
Court 6 (Exh.): Sarah Dickson and Pearl Moore (UAB) def. Kaiya Liwanag and Abby Cramer (Utah) 21-8, 21-8

Tulane 4, UAB 1
Court 1: Eva Torruella and Tarin Mergener (TU) def. Rachel Tam and Mikayla Heese (UAB) 21-17, 22-20
Court 2: Allison Olsonoski and Kendall Peters (TU) def. Emma Andraka and Adriana Pereira (UAB) 21-18, 21-15
Court 3: Addie Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman (TU) def. Dylynn Otte and Jenna Gathright (UAB) 21-16, 21-15
Court 4: Lara Torruella and Avery Arellano (TU) def. Annie Pringle and Ella Alexander (UAB) 20-22, 21-18, 15-11
Court 5: Sallianne Napolitano and Sarah Dickson (UAB) def. Ashton Mares and Maddie Speicher (TU) 24-22, 21-14
Court 6 (Exh.): Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra (TU) def. Pearl Moore and Jessica Ennis (UAB) 24-22, 21-17