Saturday, April 16
Tucson, Ariz. / Bear Down Beach
Noon
Southern Miss
2
vs
3
Stephen F. Austin
Beach Volleyball Finishes 1-3 at the Arizona Invitational After Splitting the Final Day
4/16/2022 7:37:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
TUCSON, Ariz. – Southern Miss closes the final day of the Arizona Invitational, narrowly falling to Stephen F. Austin in the only loss of the day.
Stephen F. Austin 3, Southern Miss 2
The Golden Eagles opened the final half of play in Tucson with their first match against the Ladyjacks of Nacogdoches, Texas.
Taylor Pierce and Olivia Hepworth started at the third pair and would take both their sets against the Ladyjack threes. Set one would be see Pierce/Hepworth fending off SFA for a 21-18 victory. The Golden Eagles took the point-deciding set by a score of 21-9.
Southern Miss' No. 1 position pair of Breleigh Favre and Aleksandra Chudzik would finish second overall, giving Stephen F. Austin their first point of the day.
Favre/Chudzik lost in two sets, both two-point decisions narrowly taken by the Ladyjacks. The first set score was 19-21 followed by a 22-20 second set finish.
Second position duo Vanessa Hurnikova and Kellie Garraway notched the second Golden Eagle point of the morning.
The pair needed just two sets, event going to extra points in the second to secure the point in a 22-20 finish. The first set was decided 21-11.
With Southern Miss leading 2-1 over Stephen F. Austin, both the fourth and fifth sets were still yet to finish. Both courts would turn into three-set thrillers and ultimately decide the day in the Ladyjacks' favor.
Fifth pair Carmen Sanchez Delgado and Kai Norman would take their first set 21-15 before faltering 17-21 in the second. In the deciding set, Sanchez Delgado/Norman fell just short in a 13-15 decision, tying the game at two each.
The weight of the match fell on the shoulders of Hallie Phelan and Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou. The fourth position pair battled back after an 18-21 decision to force a third set thanks to their dominant 21-14 second set performance.
In the final set of the match, with the overall score knotted at 2-2 and the sets at 1-1 on court four, Phelan/Siakidou Papakyriakou pushed the last set to an extra set decision. Ultimately, the duo fell 17-19 in the set, giving the Ladyjacks the set, point and match.
The win would be the Ladyjacks' only one of the tournament, previously losing to Cal State Bakersfield and Long Beach State on Friday and Grand Canyon earlier today.
Southern Miss 3, Cal State Bakersfield 2
The Black & Gold's Arizona finale would come against the Roadrunners, who were two votes away from being ranked in the latest AVCA Beach Volleyball Coaches' poll. Cal State Bakersfield was previously ranked 20th in weeks two and three.
Southern Miss would enter the match looking for their first ever program win west of the Rockies.
The Golden Eagles' only lineup change would come at the fifth pairing where Reagan Sandlin stepped in for Kai Norman.
Southern Miss would jump out to an early 2-0 lead after Phelan/Siakidou Papakyriakou and Hepworth/Pierce picked up two, two-set victories.
The fourth flight duo Phelan/Siakidou Papakyriakou won 21-11 and 21-16, winning the first point of the day.
Hepworth/Pierce followed closely behind, taking court three in 21-9 and 21-11 decisions.
The Roadrunners would push back taking the second position victory over Hurnikova/Garraway in two sets. Set one would be a 21-15 decision before the Golden Eagle twos pushed the Roadrunners to 23-21 win.
CSUB tied the match after a three-set performance at the fifth position. Sanchez Delgado returned, this time with Reagan Sandlin, falling in the first set 15-21.
Sanchez Delgado/Sandlin would rebound, taking set two 21-17. In the rubber set, the duo fell 8-15, winning the Roadrunners' second point of the day.
The match would come down to the top flights of each team with the match tied overall. Southern Miss' No. 1 flight Favre/Chudzik took set one 23-21 before falling in the second 19-21.
In the match point third set, the duo outlasted the Roadrunner's top pair 15-10, taking the point and securing the win for Southern Miss.
Cal State Bakersfield would finish the Arizona Invitational 1-3, falling to Grand Canyon and Arizona but defeating Stephen F. Austin.
Up Next
Southern Miss returns to the Hub City before closing out the season at Tulane for a doubleheader against the Green Wave.
The first match is currently scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. start on Saturday, April 23 at Tulane's Elmwood White Sands Beach Volleyball courts.
For updates, scores and more, follow Southern Miss Beach Volleyball on Twitter @SouthernMissBVB, on Instagram @southernmissbvb or at SouthernMiss.com.
Box Scores
Stephen F. Austin 3, Southern Miss 2
1. Olivia Unnasch/Natalie Bennett (SFA) def. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Chudzik (USM) 21-19, 22-20
2. Vanessa Hurnikova/Kellie Garraway (USM) def. Barbara Martin/Sadie Shipman (SFA) 21-11, 22-20
3. Taylor Pierce/Olivia Hepworth (USM) def. Madison Hall/Madison Horton (SFA) 21-18, 21-9
4. Kelly Johnson/Suzana De Oliveria (SFA) def. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou Papkyriakou (USM) 21-18, 14-21, 19-17
5. Toby Sherman/Rylee Erwin (SFA) def. Carmen Sanchez Delgado/Kai Norman (USM) 15-21, 21-17, 15-13
Southern Miss 3, Cal State Bakersfield 2
1. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Chudzik (USM) def. Milica Vukobrat/Cameron Solberg (CSUB) 23-21, 19-21, 15-10
2. Hana Makonova/Sophia Hladyniuk (CSUB) def. Vanessa Hurnikova/Kellie Garraway (USM) 21-15, 23-21
3. Olivia Hepworth/Taylor Pierce (USM) def. Megan Gilbert/Brooke Boiseau (CSUB) 21-9, 21-11
4. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM) def. Alaina Gendale/Seleisa Elisaia (CSUB) 21-11, 21-16
5. Caroline Benke/Hayley McCluskey (CSUB) def. Carmen Sanchez Delgado/Reagan Sandlin (USM) 21-15, 17-21, 15-8
Stephen F. Austin 3, Southern Miss 2
The Golden Eagles opened the final half of play in Tucson with their first match against the Ladyjacks of Nacogdoches, Texas.
Taylor Pierce and Olivia Hepworth started at the third pair and would take both their sets against the Ladyjack threes. Set one would be see Pierce/Hepworth fending off SFA for a 21-18 victory. The Golden Eagles took the point-deciding set by a score of 21-9.
Southern Miss' No. 1 position pair of Breleigh Favre and Aleksandra Chudzik would finish second overall, giving Stephen F. Austin their first point of the day.
Favre/Chudzik lost in two sets, both two-point decisions narrowly taken by the Ladyjacks. The first set score was 19-21 followed by a 22-20 second set finish.
Second position duo Vanessa Hurnikova and Kellie Garraway notched the second Golden Eagle point of the morning.
The pair needed just two sets, event going to extra points in the second to secure the point in a 22-20 finish. The first set was decided 21-11.
With Southern Miss leading 2-1 over Stephen F. Austin, both the fourth and fifth sets were still yet to finish. Both courts would turn into three-set thrillers and ultimately decide the day in the Ladyjacks' favor.
Fifth pair Carmen Sanchez Delgado and Kai Norman would take their first set 21-15 before faltering 17-21 in the second. In the deciding set, Sanchez Delgado/Norman fell just short in a 13-15 decision, tying the game at two each.
The weight of the match fell on the shoulders of Hallie Phelan and Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou. The fourth position pair battled back after an 18-21 decision to force a third set thanks to their dominant 21-14 second set performance.
In the final set of the match, with the overall score knotted at 2-2 and the sets at 1-1 on court four, Phelan/Siakidou Papakyriakou pushed the last set to an extra set decision. Ultimately, the duo fell 17-19 in the set, giving the Ladyjacks the set, point and match.
The win would be the Ladyjacks' only one of the tournament, previously losing to Cal State Bakersfield and Long Beach State on Friday and Grand Canyon earlier today.
Southern Miss 3, Cal State Bakersfield 2
The Black & Gold's Arizona finale would come against the Roadrunners, who were two votes away from being ranked in the latest AVCA Beach Volleyball Coaches' poll. Cal State Bakersfield was previously ranked 20th in weeks two and three.
Southern Miss would enter the match looking for their first ever program win west of the Rockies.
The Golden Eagles' only lineup change would come at the fifth pairing where Reagan Sandlin stepped in for Kai Norman.
Southern Miss would jump out to an early 2-0 lead after Phelan/Siakidou Papakyriakou and Hepworth/Pierce picked up two, two-set victories.
The fourth flight duo Phelan/Siakidou Papakyriakou won 21-11 and 21-16, winning the first point of the day.
Hepworth/Pierce followed closely behind, taking court three in 21-9 and 21-11 decisions.
The Roadrunners would push back taking the second position victory over Hurnikova/Garraway in two sets. Set one would be a 21-15 decision before the Golden Eagle twos pushed the Roadrunners to 23-21 win.
CSUB tied the match after a three-set performance at the fifth position. Sanchez Delgado returned, this time with Reagan Sandlin, falling in the first set 15-21.
Sanchez Delgado/Sandlin would rebound, taking set two 21-17. In the rubber set, the duo fell 8-15, winning the Roadrunners' second point of the day.
The match would come down to the top flights of each team with the match tied overall. Southern Miss' No. 1 flight Favre/Chudzik took set one 23-21 before falling in the second 19-21.
In the match point third set, the duo outlasted the Roadrunner's top pair 15-10, taking the point and securing the win for Southern Miss.
Cal State Bakersfield would finish the Arizona Invitational 1-3, falling to Grand Canyon and Arizona but defeating Stephen F. Austin.
Up Next
Southern Miss returns to the Hub City before closing out the season at Tulane for a doubleheader against the Green Wave.
The first match is currently scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. start on Saturday, April 23 at Tulane's Elmwood White Sands Beach Volleyball courts.
For updates, scores and more, follow Southern Miss Beach Volleyball on Twitter @SouthernMissBVB, on Instagram @southernmissbvb or at SouthernMiss.com.
Box Scores
Stephen F. Austin 3, Southern Miss 2
1. Olivia Unnasch/Natalie Bennett (SFA) def. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Chudzik (USM) 21-19, 22-20
2. Vanessa Hurnikova/Kellie Garraway (USM) def. Barbara Martin/Sadie Shipman (SFA) 21-11, 22-20
3. Taylor Pierce/Olivia Hepworth (USM) def. Madison Hall/Madison Horton (SFA) 21-18, 21-9
4. Kelly Johnson/Suzana De Oliveria (SFA) def. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou Papkyriakou (USM) 21-18, 14-21, 19-17
5. Toby Sherman/Rylee Erwin (SFA) def. Carmen Sanchez Delgado/Kai Norman (USM) 15-21, 21-17, 15-13
Southern Miss 3, Cal State Bakersfield 2
1. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Chudzik (USM) def. Milica Vukobrat/Cameron Solberg (CSUB) 23-21, 19-21, 15-10
2. Hana Makonova/Sophia Hladyniuk (CSUB) def. Vanessa Hurnikova/Kellie Garraway (USM) 21-15, 23-21
3. Olivia Hepworth/Taylor Pierce (USM) def. Megan Gilbert/Brooke Boiseau (CSUB) 21-9, 21-11
4. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM) def. Alaina Gendale/Seleisa Elisaia (CSUB) 21-11, 21-16
5. Caroline Benke/Hayley McCluskey (CSUB) def. Carmen Sanchez Delgado/Reagan Sandlin (USM) 21-15, 17-21, 15-8
Players Mentioned
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