Southern Miss
Tulane
Golden Eagles Lose Twice on Historic Day
3/5/2019 6:59:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - On a chilly day at the Southern Miss Beach Courts, 188 Golden Eagle fans watched Southern Miss (2-7, 0-2 CCSA) become the first-ever Mississippi university to host a Division I Beach Volleyball match. However, Tulane (5-6, 2-4 CCSA) got the better of the Golden Eagles in back-to-back matches by a 4-1 score.Â
Match 1
The Golden Eagles got off to a hot start after Olivia Hepworth and Breleigh Favre became the first Golden Eagle pair to win a game on Southern Miss sand. The duo smoked Tulane's No. 4 pair by 11 points in the second set to complete the sweep after stealing the first set, 21-14. Tulane tied things at one after Jessica Austin and Lindsey Smith fell in straight sets at the No. 5 pairing. Heading into the second flight knotted at one, the Greene Wave tacked on a point after Kaylie McHugh and Eva Torruella knocked off Kylie Grandy and Lindsey Legg in front of a packed crowd at the No. 1 pairing.Â
The final two pairings brought fireworks to the Southern Miss Beach Courts. Piper Motsumoto and Kellie Garraway won a big second set at the No. 3 pairing after dropping the first set. The Green Wave took a deciding third set to secure their fourth win of the season. The rest of the fireworks erupted when Abbey Wilson and Cyan Blackdeer won the second set at the No. 2 pairing to force another third set. Wilson and Blackdeer staved off set point multiple times before the Green Wave took the third set, 17-15.Â
Match 2Â
After a short break, Southern Miss and Tulane returned to the sand for another battle. Gabby Becerra and Ellie Leitko avenged their loss to Favre and Hepworth by taking the game in straight sets. Smith and Austin stepped up in their second match en route to a three-set thriller. The duo stormed back to take the second set and force a deciding third set. In the end, Tulane pulled away late in the third set after Southern Miss' graduate transfers knotted things at 10 before Tulane went on a run. Grandy and Legg dropped another close match in two sets to a Tulane pair that is now 8-3 against a well-tested schedule.Â
With the Golden Eagles needing a win at the No. 3 pairing to stay alive, Matsumoto and Garraway provided a close contest. The duo dropped two close sets en route to getting swept. Wilson and Blackdeer avenged their loss from earlier in the day after sweeping Lauren Orlich and Rio Frohoff, 22-20, 23-21. With that win, the pair have won five of their last six matches at the No. 2 pairing.Â
The Golden Eagles will return to action this weekend as they compete in The March to May in Gulf Shores, Ala. Things will kickoff at 11 a.m. on Friday morning against UAB. Following that, the Golden Eagles face Tulane, Georgia State and Spring Hill.Â
Match 1 (Tulane, 4-1)
Pair 1: Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (TUL) def. Kylie Grandy/Lindsey Legg (USM) 21-17, 21-15
Pair 2: Lauren Orlich/Rio Frohoff (TUL)Â def. Abbey Wilson/Cyan Blackdeer (USM)16-21, 21-18, 17-15
Pair 3: Tarin Mergener/Haley Gibson (TUL) def. Piper Matsumoto/Kellie Garraway (USM)Â 21-17, 13-21, 15-8
Pair 4: Olivia Hepworth/Breleigh Favre (USM) def. Gabby Becerra/Ellie Leitko (TUL) 21-14, 21-10
Pair 5: Morgan Esters/Kilani Daane (TUL) def. Jessica Austin/Lindsey Smith (USM) 21-12, 21-10
Match 2 (Tulane, 4-1)
Pair 1: Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (TUL)Â def. Kylie Grandy/Lindsey Legg (SUM) 22-20, 21-17
Pair 2: Abbey Wilson/Cyan Blackdeer (USM) def. Lauren Orlich/Rio Frohoff (TUL) 22-20, 23-21
Pair 3: Tarin Mergener/Haley Gibson (TUL) def. Piper Matsumoto/Kellie Garraway (USM) 21-16, 21-18
Pair 4: Gabby Becerra/Ellie Leitko (TUL) def. Olivia Hepworth/Breleigh Favre (USM) 22-20, 21-11
Pair 5: Morgan Esters/Kilani Daane (TUL) def. Jessica Austin/Lindsey Smith (USM) 21-18, 22-24, 15-11
