Leo Garcia

Beach Volleyball 3/17/2023 9:48:00 PM Ryan Smith, Athletic Communications Coordinator

Javelinas split on Day One of Southeastern Sugar Beach Slam

The tandem of Grace Gettys and Olivia Zeigler picked up victories in both matches

YOUNGSVILLE, La. — The Texas A&M-Kingsville beach volleyball program split on Day One of the Southeastern Sugar Beach Slam, first suffering a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Spring Hill College before picking up a 3-2 victory over New Orleans on Friday.

TAMUK vs. Spring Hill College

The Javelinas started the day falling 4-1 against the Badgers as the No. 4 combo of freshmen Meghan Stiefer and classmate Kalani Vasquez lost 21-12, 21-16 to open the contest. The No. 5 squad of junior Jackie Alanis and freshman Taylor McCarthy then suffered a 21-12, 21-16 defeat. SHC cemented their victory as junior Adrienne VanBrunt and freshman Madelyn Wallace fell 25-23, 21-10 on the No. 1 court.

The No. 2 pair of junior Rylie Anderson and freshman Rylan Pollard then went down 21-19, 21-16, ahead of a victory by junior Grace Gettys and freshman Olivia Zeigler that represented TAMUK's lone point of the match. Gettys and Zeigler narrowly lost the first set 21-23 before bouncing back, claiming a 23-21 win, and taking the point with a 15-11 third and deciding set.

Additionally, freshman Delaney Evans and junior Caitlin Willson won the extra match, 17-21, 21-12,15-10.

TAMUK vs. New Orleans

The Javelinas then narrowly took down New Orleans 3-2, after the No. 4's and No. 5's handed TAMUK an early 2-0 lead. Stiefer and Vasquez topped their opponents 21-19, 21-14, ahead of a three-set thriller in which Alanis and McCarthy battled back after dropping the first set 21-19 to take a 21-14 win in the second stanza. They then wrapped things up with a 15-11 win in the third, putting the Javelinas in the driver's seat.

UNO answered, picking up a 21-13, 21-18 win over the No. 1's and a 21-13, 21-15 victory over the No. 2's.

However, the No. 3 combo of Gettys and Zeigler secured TAMUK's win with a decisive 21-16, 21-14 score line, snapping an eight-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, the extra match reached three sets as Willson and Evans fell 18-21, 21-17, 15-11.

TAMUK's record now sits at 5-8 on the season, and they compete against the Privateers once more on Saturday at 9 a.m. before concluding the tournament with an 11 a.m. contest against North Alabama.

To stay current with everything related to Javelina Beach Volleyball all year long, follow @JavelinaBeach on Twitter and @javelinasports and @JavelinaBeach on Instagram, like Javelina Sports on Facebook and visit Javelinasports.com.

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Players Mentioned

#24 Jackie Alanis: 5' 9"; Junior

#14 Rylie Anderson: 5' 7"; Junior

#25 Grace Gettys: 6' 0"; Junior

#20 Adrienne VanBrunt: 5' 9"; Junior

#22 Madelyn Wallace: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#23 Caitlin Willson: 5' 9"; Junior

#21 Rylan Pollard: 5' 11"; Freshman

#13 Meghan Stiefer: 5' 10"; Freshman

#1 Olivia Zeigler: 5' 6"; Freshman

#3 Kalani Vasquez: 5' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#24 Jackie Alanis
: 5' 9"; Junior

#14 Rylie Anderson
: 5' 7"; Junior

#25 Grace Gettys
: 6' 0"; Junior

#20 Adrienne VanBrunt
: 5' 9"; Junior

#22 Madelyn Wallace
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

#23 Caitlin Willson
: 5' 9"; Junior

#21 Rylan Pollard
: 5' 11"; Freshman

#13 Meghan Stiefer
: 5' 10"; Freshman

#1 Olivia Zeigler
: 5' 6"; Freshman

#3 Kalani Vasquez
: 5' 3"; Freshman