By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
LAGRANGE, Ga. – LaGrange (0-2) opened its third full season as they dropped a pair of 5-0 decisions to Truett-McConnell (1-0, 0-0 SUN) and Carson-Newman (1-0) in a pair of NCAA beach volleyball matches on Friday, February 3.
TRUETT-MCCONNELL 5, LAGRANGE 0
The Bears opened with a 1-0 lead following a forfeit at the No. 5 position and made it 2-0 as the tandem of Emma Boland and Leah Bowen defeated senior Bailey Moss (Jupiter, Fla.) and freshman Zentrina Choice (Sumter, S.C.) by scores of 21-10 and 21-9 at the top spot.
Freshman Riley Morgan (Jackson, Ga.) and junior Carmen Hamilton (Alpharetta, Ga.) fell 21-7 and 21-9 to Jordan Roberts and Deomi Valmus at No. 2 before the Panthers bounced back. Freshman Morgan Martin (Chelsea, Ala.) and freshman Alexis Childers (Adairsville, Ga.) took the opening set, 21-18, at the third position before falling 21-11 and 15-4.
LC would also put up a fight at No. 4 as senior Vianca Colon-Gonzalez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) and freshman Rhaya Harwell (Austell, Ga.) dropped the first set just 21-17 before nearly forcing a third frame at 21-14.
CARSON-NEWMAN 5, LAGRANGE 0
C-NU would dominate the top of the order as Moss and Choice fell 21-10 and 21-11 to Truth Hafey and Sierra Still at No. 1 while Morgan and Hamilton dropped identical 21-7 scores to Ava Fountain and Abbey Hildenbrand at the two spot.
The most competitive frame of the day would come at No. 3 as Martin and Childers pushed the duo of Julia Wheeler and McKenna Hall. They would drop the opening set 21-9 before coming right back with a 21-19 victory to force a decisive third frame.
In that one the Eagles would just escape with a 15-9 decision and would follow with 21-8 and 21-17 scores by Taylor Keeran and Kenzie Palmer over Colon-Gonzalez and Harwell at No. 4. They would then close out the 5-0 decision with a sweep at the fifth position.
The Panthers return to action tomorrow, Saturday, February 4 when they take on Truett-McConnell and Carson-Newman once again. First serve against C-NU is set for 10 a.m. with the second TMU match slated for 2 p.m.
TRUETT-MCCONNELL 5, LAGRANGE 0
No. 1. Emma Boland/Leah Bowen (TMU) def. Bailey Moss/Zentrina Choice (LC) 21-10, 21-9
No. 2. Jordan Roberts/Deomi Valmus (TMU) def. Riley Morgan/Carmen Hamilton (LC) 21-7, 21-9
No. 3. Katie Williams/Madyson Dunn (TMU) def. Morgan Martin/Alexis Childers (LC) 18-21, 21-11, 15-4
No. 4. Alana Davis/Kaleigh McFarland (TMU) def. Vianca Colon-Gonzalez/Rhaya Harwell (LC) 21-17, 21-14
No. 5. No Players - Forfeit (LC)
CARSON-NEWMAN 5, LAGRANGE 0
No. 1. Truth Hafey/Sierra Still (C-NU) def. Bailey Moss/Zentrina Choice (LC) 21-10, 21-11
No. 2. Ava Fountain/Abbey Hildenbrand (C-NU) def. Riley Morgan/Carmen Hamilton (LC) 21-7, 21-7
No. 3. Julia Wheeler/McKenna Hall (C-NU) def. Morgan Martin/Alexis Childers (LC) 21-9, 19-21, 15-9
No. 4. Taylor Keeran/Kenzie Palmer (C-NU) def. Vianca Colon-Gonzalez/Rhaya Harwell (LC) 21-8, 21-17
No. 5. Piper Halcrow/Ashlyn Phair (C-NU) def. Riley Morgan/Shania Espada (LC) 21-14, 21-5 (Forfeit)
