Beach Volleyball March 24, 2018 Athletic Communications

Hatters Win Two of Three at Tiger Beach Challenge Saturday

Baton Rouge, La. -- Playing its second tripleheader of the season, the Stetson beach volleyball team won two of three matches Saturday at the LSU Tiger Beach Challenge in Baton Rouge, La.

The 17th-ranked Hatters swept Spring Hill College 5-0 in the morning, fell 3-2 to 10th-ranked LSU early in the afternoon, and defeated 18th-ranked Tulane 3-2 in the nightcap to improve to 12-6 on the season. Head coach Kristina Hernandez earned her 100th victory with Stetson Beach.

Against Spring Hill College, the Hatters won in straight sets at all five seeds, including a 21-14, 21-10 win at the 5 seed by ASUN Pair of the week Rebecca Ingram and Quinci Birker.

The Hatters had to turn right around and face LSU, and after Julie Varga and Lauren Durham won 21-17, 21-19 at the 4 seed, the match was tied 1-1 heading into the second wave.

The Tigers won 2-0 at the 1 seed and 2-1 at the 3 seed to clinch the match. However, Darby Dunn and Sammee Thomas battled for a three-set win at the 2 seed, 25-23, 16-21, 15-12.

All six losses by the Hatters this season have come to Top 12 opponents.

Stetson bounced back with a solid effort against Tulane as Alexa Richardson and Katinka Krahn earned the team's first point with a 21-15, 21-15 win at the 5 seed.

With the match tied 1-1, Sunniva Helland-Hansen and Carly Perales earned a 21-18, 21-16 win at the 1 seed. At the 3 seed, Rachel Noble and Samantha Harris won 21-16, 21-18 to clinch the match.

It was the Hatters' second Top-20 victory of the season.

Stetson will wrap up play at the Tiger Beach Challenge on Sunday with duals against the College of Charleston and New Orleans.

Stetson 5, Spring Hill College 0

1. Carly Perales/Sunniva Helland-Hansen (STET) def. Payton Gidney/Julie Vujnovich (SPC) 21-19, 21-16

2. Sammee Thomas/Darby Dunn (STET) def. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (SPC) 21-14, 21-14

3. Samantha Harris/Rachel Noble (STET) def. Caroline Herrera/Allison Weimer (SPC) 21-13, 21-11

4. Lauren Durham/Julie Varga (STET) def. Catherine Milwee/Emily Greim (SPC) 21-10, 21-15

5. Quinci Birker/Rebecca Ingram (STET) def. Emmarose Neibert/Emily Sullivan (SPC) 21-14, 21-10

Ext. Alexa Richardson/Katinka Krahn (STET) def. Katie Beth Gammon/Patty Blood (SPC) 21-13, 21-14

LSU 3, Stetson 2

1. Kristen Nuss/Claire Coppola (LSU) def. Sunniva Helland-Hansen/Carly Perales (STET) 21-16, 21-14

2. Sammee Thomas/Darby Dunn (STET) def. Haleigh Nelson/Ashley Allmer (LSU) 25-23, 16-21, 15-12

3. Olivia Powers/Hunter Domanski (LSU) def. Samantha Harris/Rachel Noble (STET) 21-19, 16-21, 15-12

4. Lauren Durham/Julie Varga (STET) def. Megan Davenport/Emmy Allen (LSU) 21-17, 21-19

5. Maddie Ligon/Riley Young (LSU) def. Quinci Birker/Rebecca Ingram (STET) 21-14, 21-19

Ext. Mandi Orellana/Emily Hardesty (LSU) def. Alexa Richardson/Katinka Krahn (STET) 21-17, 14-21, 15-11

Stetson 3, Tulane 2

1. Sunniva Helland-Hansen/Carly Perales (STET) def. Lan Nguyen/Tarin Mergener (TUL) 21-18, 21-16

2. Kaylie McHugh/Madeline Mertz (TUL) def. Sammee Thomas/Darby Dunn (STET) 21-19, 15-21, 15-11

3. Samantha Harris/Rachel Noble (STET) def. Anna Chin/Lauren Olrich (TUL) 21-16, 21-18

4. Ashley Delgado/Addison Hermstad (TUL) def. Lauren Durham/Julie Varga (STET) 17-21, 21-11, 15-12

5. Alexa Richardson/Katinka Krahn (STET) def. Christina McAfee/Morgan Esters (TUL) 21-15, 21-15

Ext. Quinci Birker/Rebecca Ingram (STET) def. Kendyl Brennan/Briana Correa (TUL) 24-22, 21-18

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.

Print Friendly Version