ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The LSU sand volleyball team split matches in the final day of the UNF Sand Invitational Tournament Sunday at the St. Augustine Pier. The Tigers fell to No. 7 Florida International 5-0, but came back to grind out a hard-fought 3-2 victory against College of Charleston.
In the first match, LSU was unable to get anything going against the Panthers as the team fell in straight sets.
“We didn’t get the result that we wanted,” said head coach Russell Brock. “They’re a really strong team. It was really encouraging that they battled as hard as they did. We had opportunities and ended up not pulling any set out. To be able to be in the matches was a bit of a moral victory, but we have some work to get where we want as a program.”
The Tigers came back in the last match of the tournament to defeat College of Charleston, 3-2. LSU was down 1-0 early as Emily Ehrle and Laura Whalen fell in three sets. After losing the first set 21-23, the duo rebounded in the second with a 21-18 win. Ehrle and Whalen would go up in the third set 11-10, but the pair was unable to hold on, falling 11-15.
Katarina Raicevic and Carly Morris helped tie the game by winning in straight sets 23-21 and 21-14 against the pairing of Britney Vallez and MacKenzie Cooler.
On court two, Cati Leak and Callan Molle defeated Liz Theesfeld and Maddie Hills in straight sets 24-22 and 21-16 to give LSU a 2-1 lead.
Mandi Orellana and Katie Lindelow would fall in a tough two-setter to Melissa Morello and Catey Warren on court one 21-14 and 21-19, but Helen Boyle and Cheyenne Wood would claw their way to a three-set victory 21-19, 17-21 and 15-12 to give LSU the 3-2 match win.
The Lady Tigers return to action this weekend, as the team will host the Tiger Sand Tournament at the Mango’s Beach Volleyball Club in Baton Rouge. The first match is against New Orleans Friday at 5 p.m.
“We’re excited to do it with a good crowd and hopefully we can play well and put on a good show,” said coach Brock.
For the latest information on LSU Sand Volleyball, fans can follow the Tigers on Twitter and Instagram @LSUsandVB and @RussLSUsand, or on Facebook by liking LSU sand volleyball
UNF Sand Invitational
St. Augustine, Fla.-St. Augustine Pier
March 15
LSU vs. Florida International
No. 1 FIU Maryna Samoday/Anja Licka def. LSU Mandi Orellana/Katie Lindelow 21-19, 21-12
No. 2 FIU Kris Monforte/Summer Nash def. LSU Cati Leak/Callan Molle 21-18, 21-19
No. 3 FIU Martyna Glchowicz/Anna Budinska def. LSU Helen Boyle/Cheyenne Wood 21-15, 21-15
No. 4 FIU Darija Sataric/Savannah Davis def. LSU Katarina Raicevic/Emma Hiller 21-11, 21-12
No. 5 FIU Marina Boulanger/Tina Toghiyani def. LSU Emily Ehrle/Laura Whalen 21-12, 21-14
March 15
LSU vs. College of Charleston
No. 1 CofC Melissa Morello/Catey Warren def. LSU Mandi Orellana/Katie Lindelow 21-14, 21-19
No. 2 LSU Cati Leak/Callan Mole def. CofC Liz Theesfeld/Maddie Hills 24-22, 21-16
No. 3 LSU Helen Boyle/Cheyenne Wood def. CofC Bailey Humes/Grace Rebarchak 21-19, 17-21, 15-12
No. 4 LSU Katarina Raicevic/Carly Morris def. CofC Britney Vallez/MacKenzie Cooler 23-21, 21-14
No. 5 CofC Krissy Mummey/Megan Quigley def. LSU Emily Ehrle/Laura Whalen 23-21, 18-21, 15-11