TAVARES, Fla. – Day one at the American Volleyball Coaches Association Small College Beach Championship was a successful one for the Texas A&M-Kingsville beach volleyball team, as they reeled in two victories, first by a score of 4-1 over the Tusculum Pioneers, then by a 3-2 margin at the expense of the Florida Southern Mocs on Friday afternoon at the Hickory Point Beach Sand Volleyball Complex in Tavares, Fla.
These victories put the Javelinas at 13-11 overall and 2-0 in Pool C with one more match in pool play remaining.
TAMUK vs. Tusculum
The Javelinas battled their way past the Pioneers by taking four flights in straight sets, including the No. 2 match, which was secured by seniors Shelby Williams (New Braunfels, Texas) and Debra Rogers (Tulsa, Okla.), 21-13, 21-18. In the third flight, junior Tenley Housler (Bulverde, Texas) and freshman Macie Satterwhite (Callisburg, Texas) needed extra points to take the first set, but had no trouble in the second for a 22-20, 21-12 win.
Freshmen Emily North (Red Oak, Texas) and Rylie Anderson (Justin, Texas) breezed past their opponents at No. 4, 21-11, 21-17 and junior Macy Berg (San Antonio, Texas) and freshman Adrienne Van Brunt (Corpus Christi, Texas) tallied TAMUK's final point with a fifth flight triumph, 21-8, 21-19.
TAMUK vs. Florida Southern
The Mocs gave the Javs all they could handle in the second match of the day, but TAMUK survived to close out the day undefeated. The third and fourth flights were wrapped quickly for the Blue and Gold, Housler and Satterwhite taking care of business in the former, 21-7, 21-11 and Anderson and North cruising in the latter, 21-13, 21-12.
In the No. 5 match, the first set required extra points before Berg and Van Brunt put the frame in TAMUK's column, capping it with an ace by Berg. The second one was almost as close but the Blue and Gold pair collected it by three for a 22-20, 21-18 final that clinched the match for the Javelinas.
Pairs Tournament
Both of TAMUK's tandems in the AVCA's pairs tournament enjoyed spotless days, starting with the team of sophomore Christina Gragasin (Celina, Texas) and senior Shelby Tate (New Braunfels, Texas). They notched two wins in pool play by scores of 21-18, 21-14 and 21-10, 21-4, followed up a by 28-14 victory in the challenge round.
Junior Kapri Pelle (Auburn, Calif.) and senior TaylorLynn Noga (Anchorage, Alaska) captured their two pool play matches, 21-19, 21-17 and 21-12, 21-18 and came away with a 28-14 win in their challenge division match. Both pairings will be competing in the Pairs Challenge Gold Playoff on Saturday.
The Javelinas final contest in Pool C is a matchup against the only other team with a 2-0 record in their pool, Palm Beach Atlantic, and it's scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. Fans can stay up-to-date with everything related to Javelina beach volleyball during the season by following @JavelinaBeach and @JavelinaSports on Twitter and Instagram, liking the Javelina Sports Facebook page, subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel and visiting Javelinathletics.com. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
