New Orleans, Louisiana – The Central Arkansas Beach Bears opened play at Tulane's Green Wave Invitational on Saturday, facing off with the twelfth-ranked Antelopes of Grand Canyon University. The Beach Bears handed the 'Lopes all they could handle, but came out on the wrong side of the decision, falling 2-3.
Shelby Holmes and
Mackenzie Dear got things started for Central Arkansas (7-3) making their first exhibition appearance of the season and picking up a 21-13, 21-15 win over Katie Sarber and Olivia Unnasch to move to 8-2 on the year, before
Kristine Hjembo and
Colene Hamilton put the Bears on the board with by defeating Madi Relaz and Jessica Clark 21-15, 21-19 in the number five tilt to push their record to 9-1. GCU would even the score in the final match of the first half, thanks to a 21-17, 21-19 win from Emily Reinking and Jamie Walsh over
MC Rogers and
Delaney Driver at the fours.
Jessica Standfield and Bella Bauman gave the 'Lopes a 2-1 lead by opening the second half with a 21-19, 21-13 defeat of
Jessica Martinez and
Aly Brinkley in the number threes, and Molly Turner and Hannah Towne would score a 21-10, 21-15 in the number one contest against
Kimberly Schnars and
Stephanie Pollnow at the ones to lock up the match win.
Megan Nash and
Haley Tippett, playing at the twos for the first time this season, ended the match on a high note for Central Arkansas, handing Taylor Jarzombek and Katie Pyles a 21-14, 21-13 defeat to pull the Beach Bears to within a point at 3-2.
Weather washed out Central Arkansas' second match of the day, against #19 Tulane, and put the schedule for tomorrow's matches in question. Currently the schedule for tomorrow, which initially had the Beach Bears playing #8 LSU at 8:00 AM and New Orleans at 12:30 PM, is to be determined.
