Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Central Arkansas Beach Bears returned to action with a pair of matches on Friday, heading to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to take part in the LSU Beach Invitational. UCA picked up a pair of wins on the day, taking out Texas A&M-Corpus Christ 3-2 and Texas A&M-Kingsville 4-1.
Against the Islanders, Central Arkansas (6-1) took advantage of a strong first half to build a 2-0 lead, getting a 22-20, 23-21 win from
Stephanie Pollnow and
Kimberly Schnarsin the exhibition match before
Mackenzie Dear and
Shelby Holmes locked up the first point with a 21-12, 21-19 defeat of Naomi Overstreet and Jenna Krenek at the number fives.
Colene Hamilton and
Kristine Hjembo then added a 21-11, 21-13 victory over Demi McInnis and Chloe Simon at the number four slot to send the Beach Bears into the break with a 2-0 lead.
The Islanders (6-5) got their first point in the number three contest, where Maya Daukas and Madi Fitzsimmons rallied for a 17-21, 21-10, 15-12 win over
Jessica Martinez and
Aly Brinkley. TAMUCC would then even the match at 2-2 thanks to a 21-12, 18-21, 15-12 win from Madison Green and Rachel Young over
MC Rogers and
Delaney Driver in the number two tilt.
Haley Tippett and
Megan Nash would halt the Islander rally in the number one contest however, dispatching Abigail Devido and Selina Marolf 21-11, 21-17 to secure the victory for the Bears.
The day's second match saw Central Arkansas again put up a strong first half, with Pollnow and Schnars earning their third-consecutive win with a 21-15, 21-13 defeat of Kadi Shipman and Shelby Tate and Dear and Holmes using a 21-15, 21-15 win over Loren Washingotn and Maelee Sowa to move to 6-1 on the year. Hamilton and Hjembo then sent the match to the break with UCA leading 2-0 thanks to a 21-18, 21-19 defeat of Kyra Henderson and Haley Hutchinson. With the win, the pair remains perfect on the year with a 7-0 record.
Driver and Rogers continued to strong start for Central Arkansas with a 17-21, 21-14, 15-11 victory over Erin Umbel and Tenley Housler for their fifth win of the season, before Macy Berg and Madisonn Brabham got the Javelinas (11-9) on the board with a 19-21, 21-17, 15-8 win at the number two spot. Tippet and Nash again closed things out for the Beach Bears, moving to 6-1 on the season with a 21-17, 21-11 win over Whitney Walker and Gabby Atchley.
Central Arkansas closes out the weekend with a pair of matches tomorrow, taking on #15 Arizona at 9:00 AM and Jacksonville State at 11:00 AM.
