MONROE, La. – The University of Central Arkansas beach volleyball team enjoyed a couple of wins on Saturday to close the ULM Invitational. The win over the neighboring Hendrix Warriors and the Tarleton Texans make for a happy trip home for the Bears, while lifting their record to 6-17 on the year.
UCA 5 – Hendrix 0
The Bears took it to their neighboring Hendrix Warriors, leaving no doubt on Saturday afternoon. Audrey Cathcart and Madelyn White's hot streak appeared as if it was going to end, but they rallied after dropping the first set to the Warriors No. 5 pair and came back to win it in three sets. Katie Atkinson and Brooke Kuball made quick work of the Warriors' No. 1 pair, winning 21-18, 21-14. Payton Sproule and Anna Collums continued to be a dynamic duo for the Bears, winning comfortably in the No. 2 spot, 21-15, 21-14. Naya Tan and Anna Linskey finished strong in their match to take it 21-16, 21-19. The freshmen pair of Ella Weilert and Liliana Irizary wanted to get in on the fun and were fairly dominant in their match, winning 21-12, 21-11.UCA is now 8-0 all-time against Hendrix, including wins in five straight seasons.
UCA 3 – Tarleton 2
The Beach Bears' inaugural meeting with the Texans was a good one, as UCA finished the ULM Invitational with their second win in a row. Collums and Sproule were playing so well together that they moved up to the No. 1 spot for the Bears, but unfortunately, the pair lost in the third set. Kuball and Atkinson were efficient in their win in the No. 2 spot, winning 21-15, 21-13. Weilert and Irizary as well as White and Cathcart were part of the youth movement in the bottom of the Beach Bears' lineup, as the pairs were instrumental in the victory over the Texans.
UCA will pack up and head out west next weekend, taking part in the Canyon Classic in Phoenix from Saturday, April 6th to Sunday April 7th. The Bears will face both Grand Canyon and UTEP over the two days of play.
