Tulane University
Spring Hill College
Beach Volleyball Rolls Past Spring Hill and Louisiana Monroe Saturday
Mar 6, 2021 | Women's Beach Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS — The Tulane beach volleyball team (7-1, 2-1 CCSA) swept Spring Hill College before recording a 4-1 victory over Louisiana Monroe on Saturday at the White Sands Volleyball Courts, wrapping up day two of the Bayou Beach Duals.
Sophomore Kendall Peters and graduate student Allie Olsonoski continued with their winning behavior from the No. 2 position, earning straight-set wins over Spring Hill's Sarah Senft and Mikayla Boyer (21-14, 21-12) and ULM's Anna Demmer and Katie McKay (21-14, 21-19). Peters totaled 19 kills and two aces in the wins and Olsonoski recorded 14 kills, four blocks and one ace.
Shining on court three was senior Addison Hermstad and sophomore Samantha Mehlman, defeating Brooke Borgemeyer and Allison Weimer from Spring Hill with 21-14 and 21-10 scores before beating Abigail Edler and Kayla Gallant from Louisiana Monroe with 21-11 and 21-18 scores. Hermstad led the Olive and Blue with an impressive 32 kills on day two of the tournament, also adding four blocks and four aces, while Mehlman added 18 kills and two aces.
From the No. 4 position, graduate student Avery Arellano and freshman Lara Torruella notched two wins on the sand, taking down Spring Hill's Natalie Bonner and Kyla Shappell (21-10, 21-11) and ULM's Elizabeth Moreland and Abbey Bufkin (21-10, 21-17). Arellano finished the day with 25 kills and two aces while Torruella totaled 21 kills, one block and seven aces.
Seniors Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra were successful on court five, recording wins over Spring Hill's Mary Coye Ward and Patty Blood (21-18, 21-7) and Louisiana Monroe's Ina Gosen and Holland Ponthieux (21-6, 21-17). Frohoff notched 24 kills, 3 blocks and four aces in four sets while Becerra totaled 22 kills and five aces.
From the No. 1 spot, graduate student Tarin Mergener and Eva Torruella defeated SHC's Payton Gidney and Kassandra Fairly in a two-set match (21-17, 21-15) and were just short of forcing a third set against ULM before falling to Audrey Brooks and Julia Blazek (18-21, 22-24). Mergener recorded 26 kills and three aces in two matches while Torruella totaled 23 kills, one ace and one block.
In an exhibition match on court six, sophomore Ashton Mares and freshman Maddie Speicher beat SHC's Grace Harris and Valerie Vujnovich (21-10, 21-10). Against ULM, junior Haley Gibson and freshman Savka Popovic earned a three-set win over ULM's Kaitlyn Nowak and Brooke Hoven (21-7, 19-21, 15-8) from the No. 6 spot.
The Green Wave head on the road next weekend for the first time this season, competing in the March to May in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Tulane will face UAB, TCU and Grand Canyon on Saturday before matching up against LSU and Georgia State on Sunday.
TU 5, SHC 0
Court 1: Tarin Mergener and Eva Torruella (TU) def. Payton Gidney and Kassandra Fairly (SHC) 21-17, 21-15
Court 2: Kendall Peters and Allie Olsonoski (TU) def. Sarah Senft and Mikayla Boyer (SHC) 21-14, 21-12
Court 3: Addison Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman (TU) def. Brooke Borgemeyer and Allison Weimer (SHC) 21-14, 21-10
Court 4: Avery Arellano and Lara Torruella (TU) def. Natalie Bonner and Kyla Shappell (SHC) 21-10, 21-11
Court 5: Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra (TU) def. Mary Coye Ward and Patty Blood (SHC) 21-18, 21-7
Court 6 (Exh.): Ashton Mares and Maddie Speicher (TU) def. Grace Harris and Valerie Vujnovich (SHC) 21-10, 21-10
TU 4, ULM 1
Court 1: Audrey Brooks and Julia Blazek (ULM) def. Tarin Mergener and Eva Torruella (TU) 18-21, 22-24
Court 2: Kendall Peters and Allie Olsonoski (TU) def. Anna Demmer and Katie McKay (ULM) 21-14, 21-19
Court 3: Addison Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman (TU) def. Abigail Edler and Kayla Gallant (ULM) 21-11, 21-18
Court 4: Avery Arellano and Lara Torruella (TU) def. Elizabeth Moreland and Abbey Bufkin (ULM) 21-10, 21-17
Court 5: Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra (TU) def. Ina Gosen and Holland Ponthieux (ULM) 21-6, 21-17
Court 6 (Exh.): Haley Gibson and Savka Popovic (TU) def. Kaitlyn Nowak and Brooke Hoven (ULM) 21-7, 19-21, 15-8
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