CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – It was a perfect start to 2019 campaign for the University of Central Arkansas beach volleyball team as the squad opened the year with a pair of wins in the Austin Peay Beach Volleyball Tournament Friday.

UCA (2-0) kickstarted the season with a 5-0 sweep of Jacksonville State before dispatching Southern Miss 4-1 in the afternoon match. It marks the second-straight season in which the Beach Bears opened the year with two consecutive wins.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 5, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0

The Bears picked up a dominating 5-0 sweep over the Gamecocks early on Friday morning. It was the second all-time meeting between the two squads, both of which went in favor of Central Arkansas.

NOTABLES
 

• The UCA No. 1 duo of Haley Tippett and Colene Hamilton opened the contest with a convincing 21-16, 21-18 straight-set win over the top paring for JSU.
• The newly formed combination of Mackenzie Dear and Aly Brinkley edged the Gamecock duo of Katie Will and Taylor Wooldridge 21-18, 22-20 for the win.
• Veteran leaders Jessica Martinez and Kellen Dunn posted identical 21-19 frames to earn the two-set win.
• Newcomers Kelsie Sager and Faith Hasness were the most dominant team on the day for the Bears. They easily took care of JSU's No. 4 combo by a 21-13, 21-11 margin.
• Kayla Cook and Hailey Weber persevered through a first set loss and stormed back to earn the key point for the Bears. The final score in the match was 17-21, 21-16, 17-15.
• Elleson Dunagin and Kelly Douglas dropped a three-set thriller 21-19, 19-21, 12-15 in the exhibition match.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 4, SOUTHERN MISS 1

UCA picked up right where it left off in the afternoon bout. Stepping up in competition, the Bears handled the Golden Eagles 4-1 behind some closely-contested victories.

NOTABLES
 

• Tippett and Hamilton needed three sets to earn this victory, but earned the win nonetheless. The defeated USM Kylie Grandy and Lindsey Legg 21-14, 14-21, 15-12 to secure the point for the Bears.
• Dear and Brinkley remained perfect with another straight-set win. The combo defeated a pair of Golden Eagles 21-19, 21-16.
• Sager and Harness continued their tear early in their UCA careers with a 21-16, 17-21, 15-10 win.
• Cook and Weber earned a point with the thrilling 27-25, 21-13 win to move to 2-0 on the season as a duo.
• Kimmy Schnars and Elleson Dunagin earned their first win of the season 21-15, 21-14 in the exhibition slot.
• The combination of Martinez/Dunn pushed the Southern Miss No. 3 pairing to the brink 26-28, 20-22 but came up just short for their first loss of the season.

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JENI JONES CHATMAN

"It was great to finally have the opportunity to compete today," Jones Chatman said. "I thought we did a solid job within the pairs to find ways to score and play good defense. We are looking forward to the opportunity to compete again tomorrow to close out the weekend."

UP NEXT

The Beach Bears conclude their stay in Clarksville, Tenn. with a 12 p.m. match against host-Austin Peay.