BATON ROUGE, La. (Beach Volleyball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (9-13) ended day one of the Battle on the Bayou at Mango's Beach Volleyball Club on a high note, defeating South Texas rival Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (0-12) 4-1. Prior to the victory,
Paige Lanam and
Taliah Phipps took the exhibition over Spring Hill College (13-14) but the Javelinas fell 5-0 and No. 7 LSU (19-5) powered past TAMUK 5-0.
The first of a busy three-match day featured No. 6 Lanam/Phipps defeat SHC 24-21, 21-14. It was a close one as
Kat Evans and
Maelee Sowa forced a decisive third set at No. 4 before falling 21-14, 17-21, 15-4 and
Haley Hutchinson and
Kadi Shipman did the same in No. 5, 13-21, 21-15, 16-14.
Gabby Atchley and
Kyra Henderson was even closer with sets decided by two points (22-20) and three, respectively (21-18).
The opening set for
Lexi Wick and
Kelby Sprinkles in No. 1 was a tight one with the Badgers squeaking past TAMUK, 21-19.
Versus host and nationally-ranked LSU, Atchley and Henderson looked impressed in a close match, 21-16, 21-16. The Tigers improved to 20-5 with two victories and are poised to move up to the top five nationally after beginning the day No. 7.
In the finale, the Javelinas put together a dominating performance, led by Atchley/Henderson's 21-14, 21-13 win at No. 2,
Madison Brabham and the birthday girl
Morgan Broussard taking No. 3, 22-20, 21-19, Evans and Sowa upending TAMUCC 21-16, 21-14 in No. 4 and Hutchinson and
Kadi Shipman rallying from behind to take No. 5, 14-21, 21-12, 17-15.
UP NEXT
The busy Battle on the Bayou concludes with two matches tomorrow. The Javelinas take on No. t-10 Georgia State University at 9 a.m. and a rematch begins at 3 p.m. with the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
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