BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Coastal Carolina beach volleyball team posted a pair of 3-2 wins on Friday at the Blazer Beach Bash, defeating Central Arkansas in the morning contest and then coming from behind in the afternoon bout versus host UAB in Birmingham, Ala.
The two wins push the Chants' record to 20-6 on the season.
Match 1: Coastal Carolina 3, Central Arkansas 2
Coastal Carolina (19-6) got back on the winning track in its first match of the Blazer Beach Bash, defeating Central Arkansas (15-13) by a score of 3-2.
The Chants fell behind 2-0 early in the match with a pair of straight-set losses on courts No. 4 and 5.
However, the Sandy Chants stormed back to take the next three bouts to pick up the come-from-behind win.
After an injury to the Bears in the first set on court No. 3 forced a forfeit and a win for the Chants, the top flight of
Irena Drobnjak and
Sarlota Svobodova cruised to a 21-19, 21-11 win to tie the match score up at 2-2.
It all came down to court No. 2, where the team of
Lucy Campbell and
Martine Kragholm overcame a 28-26 first-set loss to take the second set 21-15. In the third set, the Chants' duo held on for a 17-15 win to give the women in teal the 3-2 match victory.
Match 2: Coastal Carolina 3, UAB 2
The Sandy Chants (20-6) continued their comeback efforts in the second match of the day, fighting for a pair of three-set wins on court No. 1 and 3 to come from behind with a 3-2 win over host UAB (10-13).
UAB's team of Sarah Dickson and Jenna Gathright earned the first win of the match on court No. 4 to take a 1-0 lead before the CCU tandem of
Carli Ginther and
Ellie Hanford won in straight sets at 21-17, 21-19 at flight five to tie the match up at 1-1.
UAB retook the match lead at 2-1 with a win on court No. 2 which saw the second set go to 30-28 in favor of the Blazers.
However, the Chants refused to quit, as the team of Drobnjak and Svobodova fought back from a first-set 21-18 defeat to take the next two sets at 21-11 and 15-13 to tie the match up again at 2-2.
The match would come down to the No. 3 flight, as the pair of
Sarah Riedell and
Kendra Lukacs dropped the first set 21-17. However, the CCU duo took the second set by the same score, 21-17, and then battled to the end when a service error ended the third set at 15-12 in favor of the Chants.
The Chanticleers will return to the sand tomorrow for two more matches at the Blazer Beach Bash. CCU will take on ULM at 11 a.m. ET and then turn around to face Mercer at 1 p.m. ET.
Results
Match 1: Coastal Carolina 3, Central Arkansas 2
- Irena Drobnjak/Sarlota Svobodova (CCU) def. Evelyn Griffith/Colene Hamilton (UCA) – 21-19, 21-11
- Lucy Campbell/Martine Kragholm (CCU) def. Aly Brinkley/Kelsie Sager (UCA) – 26-28, 21-15, 17-15
- Sarah Riedell/Kendra Lukacs (CCU) def. Makenna Schmitt/Julia Oravec (UCA) – 13-8, retired
- Faith Hasness/Payton Sproule (UCA) def. Carli Ginther/Ellie Hanford (CCU) – 21-13, 21-15
- Bria Garmon/Shannon Stone (UCA) def. Emma Gonzalez/Kalin Eske (CCU) – 21-9, 21-19
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 1, 2
Match 2: Coastal Carolina 3, UAB 2
- Irena Drobnjak/Sarlota Svobodova (CCU) def. Rachel Tam/Mikayla Law-Heese (UAB) – 18-21, 21-11, 15-13
- Salli Napolitano/Arden Copping (UAB) def. Lucy Campbell/Martine Kragholm (CCU) – 21-17, 30-28
- Sarah Riedell/Kendra Lukacs (CCU) def. Dylynn Otte/Emma Andraka (UAB) – 17-21, 21-17, 15-12
- Sarah Dickson/Jenna Gathright (UAB) def. Emma Gonzalez/Kalin Eske (CCU) – 21-18, 21-13
- Carli Ginther/Ellie Hanford (CCU) def. Jessica Ennis/Pearl Moore (UAB) – 21-17, 21-19
Order of finish: 4, 5, 2, 1, 3
For complete coverage of CCU beach volleyball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalBeachVB (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUsports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.
