CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Texas A&M-Kingsville beach volleyball team capped day one of the C of C Beach Bash with a dominating, 5-0, victory over the Carson-Newman Eagles on Saturday afternoon at the Creekside Tennis and Swim Club in Charleston, S.C. The Javelinas dropped their first match of the day to the College of Charleston.
"Wins are great," said coach Tanya Allen, "but I'm proud of the improvement we're showing. We're really working to keep the girls focused more on process and less on outcome. If we really focus on the process and growing, more wins will come."
TAMUK vs. College of Charleston
The Cougars played up to their status as a team receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll and defeated the Javs, 5-0.
The first two flights saw Allison Beckman and Logan Manusky defeat junior TaylorLynn Noga (Anchorage, Alaska) and freshman Christina Gragasin (Celina) in the fourth flight, 21-13, 21-10 and Taylor Foley and Katja Ehlers top junior Maelee Sowa (Sealy, Texas) and freshman Nicole Murff (San Antonio, Texas) in the fifth match, 21-15, 21-14. The exhibition match went to the Cougars as well.
Senior Madison Brabham (Kingwood, Texas) and freshman Kylexus Block (San Antonio, Texas) put up a valiant fight in the second flight before falling, 21-16, 21-15, and sophomores Whitney Walker (Bellingham, Wash.) and Tenley Housler (Bulverde, Texas) did the same in the top spot in a 21-13, 21-14 defeat.
The closest match was the No. 3 contest between senior Haley Hutchinson (Georgetown, Texas) and sophomore Macy Berg (San Antonio, Texas) and Amani Dustin and Mandy Napierala. A close first set that went to C of C was followed by 21-18 comeback from Berg and Hutchinson, but Dunston and Napierala edged their opponents, 17-15 in a tight third frame.
TAMUK vs. Carson-Newman
The second match of the day for the Javelinas was a completely different story, as they kept their opponents from reaching double figures in six of 10 sets.
TAMUK's fast start was fueled by easy wins in the first two matches. Gragasin and Murff cruised in the fifth flight to a 21-10, 21-6 triumph and that was soon followed by another win for the Javs. This one was provided by Noga and freshman Lauren Kadilis (Spring Branch, Texas) in the No. 4 slot, who defeated Lauren Williams and Montgomery Sauter, 21-12, 21-9.
The day was finished off by three more stellar performances, including a 21-8, 21-7 rout crafted by Block and Brabham. Walker and Housler pocketed the No. 1 match by a score of 21-9, 21-12 and Hutchinson and Berg sealed the sweep with a 21-13, 21-6 win.
TAMUK's time in the Palmetto State concludes with two matches on Sunday. First, they'll tangle with Florida Southern at 8 a.m., followed immediately by a 10 a.m. tussle against Huntingdon College. Fans can keep up with Javelina Beach Volleyball by following @JavelinaBeach on Twitter and @javelinasports and @JavelinaBeach on Instagram, liking Javelina Sports on Facebook and visiting Javelinasports.com.
