Foley, Alabama — UNCW, the seventh seed, knocked out third-seeded Southern Miss from the Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship with a 4-1 victory Thursday. The Seahawks won three of four flights en route to the semifinals, ending the Golden Eagles’ season.
Southern Miss opened the day with a 5-0 win over fifth-seeded College of Charleston to advance to the quarterfinals. The Golden Eagles quickly took control, winning all five flights. Laurel Dennis and Sadie McAda secured the dual with a 21-18, 21-16 win at the top flight. Zuzanna Michalska and Abby Lewis also won in straight sets at the second flight, 21-15, 21-15.
The Golden Eagles clinched the match after Jaden White and Margarita Grigoreva won at the third flight. Kitija Martini Adamsone and Giovanna Gurgel Bahia fought back to take the third set after losing the first, finishing 15-12 in the third. However, UNCW responded with wins at the fourth and fifth flights, with the Seahawks securing the victory in the final dual.
UNCW’s Grace Sistrunk and Lyvia Trimp defeated Dennis and McAda, 21-19, 21-11, at the top flight to give the Seahawks a 2-1 lead. Gabby LaPata and Sarah Thompson then won at the second flight, 21-18, 21-13, tying the dual. Alise Barbour and Ailvia Hamel secured the clincher with a straight-set win at the third flight. UNCW’s Traci Schrock and Keenan Engebretson closed out the match with a 15-11 third-set win at the fifth flight.
The tournament continues Friday with Georgia State facing Mercer and other matches to determine the finalists. The championship match is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., with the winner earning the Sun Belt title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
