CONWAY, AR - On day two of their annual home tournament known as the Beach Bear Classic, the University of Central Arkansas beach volleyball team split their duels with Austin Peay State and Hendrix College.
 
UCA suffered its first loss of the season in the first duel of the day against Austin Peay State in a close 3-2 battle. The Beach Bears would bounce back in its second match of the day against Conway cross-town rival Hendrix College, defeating the Warriors in all five pairings for their sixth victory by sweep this season.
 
Central Arkansas 2, Austin Peay State 3
 
In a duel that saw three of the five pairings require three sets, Central Arkansas would come up just short, falling to the Governors and suffering their first loss of the season.
 

• Kimmy Schnars and Shannon Stone would get off to a flying start, winning the first set of the No. 5 pairing convincingly 21-16. The duo would suffer a tightly contested second set 21-23 before falling in a third set thriller 16-18.
• Kelly Douglas and Makenna Schmitt were the most dominant pairing of the duel, winning 21-9 in the first set and following with a 21-18 second win for the two-set victory, earning first point for the Bears.
• In a thrilling No. 3 pairing battle, Faith Hasness and Evelyn Griffith would come up just short. The young duo would edge out a close victory in the first set 21-18 before falling in identical fashion in the second. The Governors would just squeak out the win after a 17-19 victory in the third set.
• Colene Hamilton and Kelsie Sager would suffer its first two-set loss of the season in the No. 2 pairing after falling 17-21 in set one and 14-21 in set two.
• Mackenzie Dear and Aly Brinkley continued their stellar play in the No. 1 pairing. After dropping the first set 17-21, the experienced duo would bounce back to win the second set 21-14, before a convincing 15-11 win in the third set.

 
Central Arkansas 4, Hendrix 0
 
Despite losing its first duel of the day, UCA would bounce back in the second duel against Hendrix and post its sixth sweep of this early season. The Beach Bears were about as dominant as you could be, allowing no more than 16 points in any set played.
 

• Kayla Cook would pair with Kimmy Schnars for the first time this season and the duo would dominate the No. 5 pairing in a 21-2, 21-15 two-set victory.
• Douglas and Schmitt went unbeaten on the day after their dominant showing in the No. 4 pairing in a 21-10, 21-11 two-set win.
• After a heartbreaking loss to Austin Peay, Hasness and Griffith would bounce back in the No. 3 pairing against Hendrix, positing impressive 21-16, 21-9 set wins to secure yet another point for the Bears.
• There was no No. 2 matchup as the Warriors forfeited this pairing.
• Brinkley and Dear were nearly perfect in their No. 1 pairing slot, posting a 21-10 victory in set one before an astounding 21-1 victory in set two.

 
Coach Autumn Erickson Quotes
 
"The opponents get tougher and tougher throughout our schedule for the season. We have had a strong start, going 7-1 in our first two weekends. Despite our loss to Austin Peay earlier this afternoon, we fought through every match. It's important for our players to remember that losses don't define who we are and what we can accomplish. They are opportunities for us to grow, learn, and work on improving.  I'm proud that we fought until the end.  The ball just didn't fall our way in a couple clutch moments.  Victories are never given, they are earned.  We have to keep our mindset positive moving forward, focus on what we can control, and keep fighting.  I think that is the greatest take away from this weekend moving forward into conference."