Beach Volleyball Hits the Sand
Spartanburg, SC. The Spartanburg Methodist Women’s Beach Volleyball hit the sand this past weekend for a Tri- Match Dual at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. Team duals are set up as 5 pairs competing to win the best 3 out of 5 matches. The Huntingdon Beach Bash was a great test for the team in both weather and competition.
For the first matches on Thursday, with a high of 70 and Tornado risk of level 2, the Pioneers took the challenge and competed well in each match. Although they did not pull a match, the 4’s pair of Marrit Preuting/Ashley Gagon, battled to extra points to close out the second set after a tough start.
Huntingdon Beach Volleyball 5, Spartanburg Methodist Beach 0
Doubles competition
1. Ashlen Janowski/Reece Rhodes (HCBVB) def. Zuzanna Michalska/Kendall Meinders (SMUBVB) 21-11, 21-13
2. Izzy Valldeperas/Veronica Tikhomirova (HCBVB) def. Tayla Reini/Tori Barr (SMUBVB) 21-13, 21-12
3. Eva Ellenburg/Ariel Helmick (HCBVB) def. Sidney Russell/Aurora Aho (SMUBVB) 21-16, 21-15
4. Bea Lindquist/Caroline Foote (HCBVB) def. Marrit Preusting/Ashley Gagnon (SMUBVB) 21-6, 23-21
5. Lauren Hinton/Samantha Singleton (HCBVB) def. Callie Wzorek/Racquel Talley (SMUBVB) 21-15, 21-16
Beach Bash Day 2
What a difference a day can make!! All 5 pairs hit the sand in a totally different environment. Stepping on the court in a raining 45 degrees, the SMC Beach Team hit the ground running! Playing in reverse order the 5’s team of Callie Wzorek/ Racqual Talley took the court first and gave the Pioneers their first match WIN!
That first win inspired the team to better the ball with each touch and spurred the remaining teams to battle for extra points and extra sets in 3 of the 4 remaining duals.
Loyola New Orleans Beach 4, Spartanburg Methodist Beach 1
Doubles competition
1. Madeline Corrall/Gabby Masiello (LONOBVB) def. Zuzanna Michalska/Kendall Meinders (SMCBVB) 21-18, 13-21, 15-10
2. Juliet Petruzelli/Preslie Boswell (LONOBVB) def. Tayla Reini/Tori Barr (SMCBVB) 21-23, 21-9, 15-12
3. Brittany Cooper/Samantha Ingram (LONOBVB) def. Sidney Russell/Aurora Aho (SMCBVB) 24-22, 23-21
4. Kiarelis Martinez/Emily Sheperis (LONOBVB) def. Marrit Preusting/Ashley Gagnon (SMCBVB) 21-15, 21-6
5. Callie Wzorek/Racquel Talley (SMCBVB) def. Elizabeth Prado/Natalie Brukholder (LONOBVB) 21-16, 21-15
The final dual of the weekend featured the SMC Pioneers and a very disciplined team from Truett McCollell University. The SMC Pioneers spilt the first 4 matches. It came down to the final match showcasing the 1’s pair of Zuzanna Michalska / Kendall Meinders. These two student athletes only worked together a few days before the dual due to team dynamics. Both played amazing defense and made some great shots to stay competitive in each set but just could not pull the final win.
Truett McConnell Beach 3, Spartanburg Methodist Beach 2
Doubles competition
1. Leah Bowen/Emma Boland (TMUBVB) def. Zuzanna Michalska/Kendall Meinders (SMCBVB) 21-16, 21-11
2. Tayla Reini/Tori Barr (SMCBVB) def. Deomi Valmus/Jordan Roberts (TMUBVB) 21-16, 21-11
3. Katie Williams/Madyson Dunn (TMUBVB) def. Sidney Russell/Aurora Aho (SMCBVB) 14-21, 21-14, 15-11
4. Ashley Gagnon/Marrit Preusting (SMCBVB) def. Alana Davis/Kaleigh McFarland (TMUBVB) 21-14, 21-17
5. Brooklyn Brock/Camille Godfrey (TMUBVB) def. Callie Wzorek/Racquel Talley (SMCBVB) 21-15, 21-13
The Women’s Beach Volleyball team will hit the sand this week to get ready to compete in the Berry College tournament this coming weekend February 24 & 25.
The Pioneers will face Division I Tennessee Tech in their inaugural beach season, as well as Division II Carson Newman, and Division III Berry College. The first match kicks off at 10:00AM on Friday, February 24th.
