By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
ROME, Ga. – Taking on two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum, LaGrange (0-19) dropped a pair of 5-0 decisions to Stevenson (11-4) and first-year program Lynchburg (7-10) on Day 1 of the Berry DIII Beach Bash in NCAA beach volleyball action on Friday, March 24.
GAME 1: STEVENSON 5, LAGRANGE 0
The top duo of senior Bailey Moss (Jupiter, Fla.) and freshman Zentrina Choice (Sumter, S.C.) would push the defending AVCA Small College National Champions as they narrowly dropped the opening set 21-17 to Shannon Bailey and Taylor Jones before falling 21-10.
Freshmen Morgan Martin (Chelsea, Ala.) and Alexis Childers (Adairsville, Ga.) then dropped identical 21-7, 21-7 decisions to Rileigh Kimball and Miranda Mueck at the two spot before junior Carmen Hamilton (Alpharetta, Ga.) and freshman Meredith Orton fell 21-7, 21-14 to Makala Thompson and Nicolette Fuglestad at No. 3.
Senior Vianca Colon-Gonzalez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) and freshman Rhaya Harwell (Austell, Ga.) then rounded out the 5-0 final as they fell 21-12, 21-11 to Hannah Naja and Maddie Clouser at the fourth position.
GAME 2: LYNCHBURG 5, LAGRANGE 0
The nightcap, while producing the same 5-0 result, would see a much more competitive affair as the Panthers extended a pair of sets.
After Choice and Moss dropped a 21-13, 21-11 decision to Kailey Keough and Jordan Palmer at the No. 1 spot, Martin and Childers rebounded from a 21-7 opening set loss to Mady Shirey and Amanda Trapp at No. 2 to force extras before narrowly dropping a 23-21 second set.
Hamilton and Orton would do that and take it a step further against Mackenzie Ingrassia and Margo Fox at the third position. After losing the first set 21-15 they battled their way to a back-and-forth 25-23 victory in the second frame to force a decisive third set. That too would go extras as 15 points was not enough as Lynchburg narrowly escaped with a 16-14 victory to take the match.
Colon-Gonzalez and Harwell would then round out the match as they fell 21-14, 21-13 to Parker Lynch and Molly Ballew at the fourth position.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will close out the season tomorrow, Saturday, March 25 as they take on 2022 national runner-up Hendrix at 3:15 p.m. and homestanding Berry at 5 p.m.
STEVENSON 5, LAGRANGE 0
1. Shannon Bailey/Taylor Jones (SU) def. Bailey Moss/Zentrina Choice (LC) 21-17, 21-10
2. Rileigh Kimball/Miranda Mueck (SU) def. Morgan Martin/Alexis Childers (LC) 21-7, 21-7
3. Makala Thompson/Nicolette Fuglestad (SU) def. Carmen Hamilton/Meredith Orton (LC) 21-7, 21-14
4. Hannah Naja/Maddie Clouser (SU) def. V. Colon-Gonzalez/Rhaya Harwell (LC) 21-12, 21-11
5. No player/No player (SU) def. No player/No player (LC), by forfeit
LYNCHBURG 5, LAGRANGE 0
1. Kailey Keough/Jordan Palmer (LYN) def. Bailey Moss/Zentrina Choice (LC) 21-13, 21-11
2. Mady Shirey/Amanda Trapp (LYN) def. Morgan Martin/Alexis Childers (LC) 21-7, 23-21
3. Mackenzie Ingrassia/Margo Fox (LYN) def. Carmen Hamilton/Meredith Orton (LC) 21-15, 23-25, 16-14
4. Parker Lynch/Molly Ballew (LYN) def. V. Colon-Gonzalez/Rhaya Harwell (LC) 21-14, 21-13
5. No player/No player (LYN) def. No player/No player (LC), by forfeit
