COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beach volleyball team split a tightly contested day Friday at Wheeler Beach Bash, opening competition with a 3-2 victory over Chattanooga before battling host South Carolina in a narrow 4-1 dual that featured multiple three-set decisions.
In the morning matchup against Chattanooga, the Islanders relied on resilience across the lineup to secure the season victory. The No. 2 pair of Maria Duda Fernandes De Melo and
Millie Olsson delivered a steady 21-16, 21-14 win to give A&M-Corpus Christi early momentum.
After Chattanooga evened the dual with wins on courts three and four, the Islanders responded in decisive fashion at No. 5.
Mia Stevens and
Ashlyn Rough controlled play throughout a 21-14, 21-12 victory, tying the match and setting up a dramatic finish on the top court.
Kristin Bobay and
Madison Morrow clinched the dual at No. 1, rallying after dropping the opening set to defeat their opponents 19-21, 21-16, 15-13. The Islanders also picked up an extra-pair victory as
Avery Nowak and
Saskia Hernandez earned a 21-17, 16-21, 15-4 win in exhibition play.
A&M-Corpus Christi carried that momentum into the afternoon against tournament host South Carolina, where several courts again came down to narrow margins despite the final scoreline. Fernandes De Melo and Olsson secured the Islanders' point at No. 2 with a composed 21-19, 21-16 victory, finishing the day undefeated as a pair.
Three courts pushed to decisive third sets. On court one, Bobay and Morrow battled throughout a back-and-forth contest, falling just short 21-17, 19-21, 15-13.
Emily Wood and
Lizzie Denyer forced a third set at No. 3 before South Carolina pulled away 21-9, 17-21, 15-7, while
Avery Nowak and
Saskia Hernandez also extended their matchup to three sets at No. 5 before the Gamecocks secured the point 15-21, 21-18, 15-9.
Fernandes De Melo and Olsson highlighted the performance by earning wins in both duals, while Bobay/Morrow and Stevens/Rough each contributed key victories in the Islanders' opening triumph over Chattanooga.
Coming up:
Saturday, Feb. 28
8 a.m. – A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Austin Peay
Stats
10 a.m. – A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Coastal Carolina
Stats
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