NEW ORLEANS – The University of Central Arkansas beach volleyball team faced two ranked opponents on day one of the NOLA Classic. UCA fell to 9-7 on the season as it dropped matches to No. 20 Tulane and No. 17 Georgia State on Friday.
 
Match One – No. 20 Tulane 4, UCA 1
 
The tandem of Aly Brinkley and Colene Hamilton fell to Eva Torruella and Kendall Peters in the No. 1 position, 24-22 and 21-14. In the No. 2 spot, Evelyn Griffith and Faith Hasness lost in a two-set match against Tarin Mergener and Allie Olsonoski, 21-11 and 21-13. Makenna Schmitt and Shannon Stone also fell in two sets to Addie Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman in the No. 3 position, 21-11 and 21-13.
 
The duo of Julia Oravec and Kelsie Sager picked up the lone point for the Beach Bears in the No. 4 position. Oravec and Sager won the first set 21-18, but was challenged in the second set as Avery Arellano and Lara Torruella of Tulane won 21-17. Oravec and Sager remained unphased and picked up the victory in the third set, 16-14.
 
In the No. 5 spot, Payton Sproule and Kayla Cook lost a hard-fought battle to Rio Frohoff and Gabby Becerra in three sets, 21-14, 19-21, and 15-10. Annie Berry and Bria Garmon lost in the first set of the exhibition match to Ashton Mares and Maddie Speicher, 21-12. Berry and Mary Galloway fell to Mares and Speicher, 21-11 in the second set of the exhibition match.
 
Match Two – No. 17 Georgia State 4, UCA 1
 
The duo of Brinkley and Hamilton picked up the sole point for the Beach Bears in the No. 1 position against Bailey Hatchett and Eden Hawes. Brinkley and Hamilton fell in a tightly contested first set 26-24, but accepted the challenge and pushed forward to win the next two sets, 21-17 and 15-10.
 
Griffith and Hasness fell in the No. 2 spot to Mattie Johnson and Olivia Stasevich in three sets, 17-21, 21-18 and 15-8. In the No. 3 position, Oravec and Sager were defeated by Meagan McCall and Kate Novack, 21-11 and 21-18. Schmitt and Stone faced Maddie Gordon and Becky Tresham in the No. 4 spot and lost 21-14 and 21-10.
 
In the No. 5 position, Sproule and Cook were defeated by Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary in two sets, 21-13 and 21-13. In the exhibition match, Berry and Garmon fell to Bekah Brodbeck and Elise Saga, 21-14 and 21-13.
 
The Beach Bears return to the sand Saturday for a matchup with Spring Hill to round out the NOLA Classic. First serve is scheduled for noon. There will not be live stats during the match, but you can watch the action here.
 
Follow the Beach Bears
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram