BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The LSU sand volleyball team advanced to an 8-7 record after defeating UAB and ULM in a pair of 3-2 wins to open the Blazer Beach Duals Tournament today.
The Tigers started the big day with a 3-2 victory over the UAB Blazers. Junior Cati Leak and Callan Molle swept the Blazers on court two with a two-set victory, while Helen Boyle and Cheyenne Wood tallied another two-set victory on court three. The third victory came from Katarina Raicevic and Carly Morris on court four where they defeated the Blazers in three sets.
LSU kept the momentum to earn their second win of the day defeating the ULM Warhawks. Leak and Molle put up a strong performance on court two defeating the Warhawks 21-13 in the first two sets. Katie Lindelow and Mandi Orellana dropped the first set on court one, but rallied back in the last two sets to take the win. Boyle and Wood competed on court three where they rallied back in the last two sets to give LSU a 3-2 victory over the Warhawks.
‘We battled in both matches,” Associate Head Coach Russell Brock said. “We’ve been working on being consistent and finding ways to win even if we aren’t playing well. Especially in the second match, we got into some tight situations where we were down. We got to the third game and really battled. Even in the third game, we were down at times, but we didn’t quit or give up. We found ways to become successful, so it was a really big day for us.”
The Tigers take the courts for day two of the Blazers Beach Duals tomorrow as they compete against Spring Hill at 8:00 a.m. CDT and New Orleans at 12 p.m,
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.
Blazer Beach Duals Tournament
March 28, 2015
LSU def. UAB, 3-2
Hirini/Thomas vs. Katie Lindelow/ Mandi Orellana (L), 21-11, 19-21, 15-12
Ekpe/Slaughter vs. Cati Leak/Callan Molle (W), 21-18, 21-16
Rishell/Fairbanks vs. Helen Boyle/Cheyenne Wood (W), 21-18, 21-17
Messisco/Moreno vs. Katarina Raicevic/Carly Morris (W), 15-21, 21-15, 15-10
Howard/Logoleo vs. Emily Ehrle/Emma Hiller (L), 21-19, 21-17
LSU def. ULM, 3-2
(W) Lindelow/Orellana vs. Araya/McNamee , 15-21, 21-19, 15-12
(W) Leak/Molle vs. Pawlik/Lindstrom, 21-13, 21-13
(W) Boyle/Wood vs. Cullum/Crossfield, 16-21, 21-11, 18-16
(L) Raicevic/Morris vs. Swartz/Hoffman, 20-22, 21-17, 15-10
(L) Young/Hiller vs. Shearer/Zaeske, 21-15, 19-21, 15-11