Tulane University
Spring Hill College (Ala.)
Beach Volleyball Goes 2-1 to Open Tiger Beach Challenge
Feb 29, 2020 | Women's Beach Volleyball
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — The Tulane beach volleyball team (4-1, 1-0 CCSA) went 2-1 on Saturday to start its weekend in the Tiger Beach Challenge, defeating Spring Hill College (5-0) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (3-2), while falling to No. 1 UCLA at the LSU Beach Volleyball Stadium.
"I'm super proud of our unit today for competing for every single point the entire day through three duals, and coming up with a couple big team wins," head coach Eyal Zimet said. "The atmosphere was perfect and the day was meant for beach volleyball! Time to receover and refuel and get ready for more action tomorrow."
The Green Wave dominated in the first match of the day against the Badgers, as every pair beat their opponent in two sets.
Seniors Kaylie McHugh and Eva Torruella were successful from the No. 1 spot, taking down Spring Hill's Payton Gidney and Mikayla Boyer (21-14, 21-14) to start the day before closing it with a win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi's Abigail Devido and Emma Coudon (21-17, 21-17).
Also impressive in the team's second tournament of the season was junior Tarin Mergener and freshman Kendall Peters on court two. The pair was victorious over Spring Hill's Brittany Bilotti and Allison Weimer (21-9, 21-19) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi's Rachel Young and Fanny Ahman (21-16, 21-16).
A big win today came from junior Addison Hermstad and freshman Samantha Mehlman, as the duo took down No. 1 UCLA's Rileigh Powers and Madi Yeomans in two sets (22-20, 21-16) on court four. Hermstad and Mehlman also defeated Spring Hill's Cassidi Sterrett and Sarah Senft with 21-8 and 21-11 scores to start the day on top.
Also notching two wins on day one of the Tiger Beach Challenge was juniors Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra from the No. 5 position. The two defeated Spring Hill's Leanne Sorrel and Taylor Hurst (21-14, 21-12) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi's Demi McInnis and Sam Dumity (21-17, 21-11).
Sophomore Ellie Leitko and freshman Ashton Mares helped the Olive and Blue to a sweep in the first match on Saturday, beating Emmarose Neibert and Kassandra Fairly (21-16, 21-18).Â
The Green Wave are back in action on Sunday, taking on Houston Baptist (RV) at 10 a.m. before facing host No. 2 LSU at 12 p.m.
Tulane 5, Spring Hill College 0Â
No. 1 Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (TU) def. Payton Gidney/Mikayla Boyer (SHC) 21-14, 21-14
No. 2 Tarin Mergener/Kendall Peters (TU) def. Brittany Bilotti/Allison Weimer (SHC) 21-9, 21-19
No. 3 Ashton Mares/Ellie Leitko (TU) def. Emmarose Neibert/Kassandra Fairly (SHC) 21-16, 21-18
No. 4 Addie Hermstad/Samantha Mehlman (TU) def. Cassidi Sterrett/Sarah Senft (SHC) 21-8, 21-11
No. 5 Rio Frohoff/Gabby Becerra (TU) def. Leanne Sorrel/Taylor Hurst (SHC) 21-14, 21-12Â
#1 UCLA 4, Tulane 1Â
No. 1 Abby Van Winkle/Savvy Simo (UCLA) def. Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (TU) 21-16, 21-16
No. 2 Lindsey Sparks/Lexi Denaburg (UCLA) def. Tarin Mergener/Kendall Peters (TU) 21-16, 21-13
No. 3 Lily Justine/Lea Monkhouse (UCLA) def. Ashton Mares/Ellie Leitko (TU) 21-17, 21-17
No. 4 Addie Hermstad/Samantha Mehlman (TU) def. Rileigh Powers/Madi Yeomans (UCLA) 22-20, 21-16
No. 5 Megan Muret/Jacqueline Quade (UCLA) def. Rio Frohoff/Gabby Becerra (TU) 21-18, 21-15
Tulane 3, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 2
No. 1 Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (TU) def. Abigail Devido/Emma Coudon (AMCC) 21-17, 21-17
No. 2 Tarin Mergener/Kendall Peters (TU) def. Rachel Young/Fanny Ahman (AMCC) 21-16, 21-16
No. 3 Brooke Adkisson/Giuliana Corrales (AMCC) def. Ashton Mares/Ellie Leitko (TU) 18-21, 21-10, 16-14
No. 4 Kylie Kvam/Taylor Horsfall (AMCC) def. Addie Hermstad/Samantha Mehlman (TU) 21-17, 22-20
No. 5 Rio Frohoff/Gabby Becerra (TU) def. Demi McInnis/Sam Dumity (AMCC) 21-17, 21-11
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