The Spring Hill College (SHC) beach volleyball team opened its 2017 home slate with a 5-0 victory over Principia College (0-8), but fell twice to the University of North Florida by similar 3-2 scores. In the day's final match, the Badgers and the Osprey (5-7) were tied 2-2 after SHC took a thrilling 2-1 win on the No. 2 Court, but UNF secured the final victory in a final 2-1 verdict at the No. 1 Court that saw the final tie-breaking set go to the Osprey 15-8.
 
Spring Hill College 5, Principia 0
1. Julie Vujnovich/Savannah Becnel (SHC) def. Emelie Fredrikson/Nikki Matters (PC) 21-17, 21-8
2. Sarah Senft/Brittany Bilotti (SHC) def. Cha Cha Fisher/Devon Marunde (PC) 21-6, 21-18
3. Hannah Masoner/Caroline Herrera (SHC) def. Sophia Hathaway/Noelle Shoemake (PC) 21-14, 21-18
4. Catherine Milwee/Taylor Hurst (SHC) def. Makena Patterson/Victoria Vandiver (PC) 21-7, 21-14
5. Sarah Szostak/Payton Gidney (SHC) def. Amanda Roberts/Mesa Goebel (PC) 21-5, 21-11
Ext. Patty Blood/Katie Beth Gammon (SHC) def. Zoe Mahler/Laura Cluthe (PC) 21-15, 21-18
 
Spring Hill College 2, North Florida 3
1. Julie Vujnovich/Madison Seuzeneau (SHC) def Kimberly FERGUSON/Carina HOFF (UNF) 17-21, 23-21, 15-11
2. Courtney MILLER/Katarina RAICEVIC (UNF) def. Molly Griffin/Savannah Becnel (SHC) 21-18, 21-15
3. Chaney HOWARD/Lauren GAINER (UNF) def. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (SHC) 21-17, 21-9
4. Hannah Masoner/Caroline Herrera (SHC) def. Gabby O'CONNELL/Brittany PASE (UNF) 19-21, 21-11, 18-16
5. Shannon McPHERSON/Nicole DeBOLT (UNF) def. Catherine Milwee/Taylor Hurst (SHC) 21-8, 21-16
Ext. Emily Greim/Sarah Szostak (SHC) def. Madilyn McCARTY/Sadie THURSTON (UNF) 24-22, 21-19
 
Spring Hill College 2, North Florida 3
1. Courtney MILLER/Katarina RAICEVIC (UNF) def. Julie Vujnovich/Madison Seuzeneau (SHC) 21-9, 19-21, 15-8
2. Molly Griffin/Savannah Becnel (SHC) def. Kimberly FERGUSON/Carina HOFF (UNF) 19-21, 21-15, 15-13
3. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (SHC) def. Chaney HOWARD/Lauren GAINER (UNF) 21-17, 21-19
4. Gabby O'CONNELL/Brittany PASE (UNF) def. Hannah Masoner/Caroline Herrera (SHC) 21-15, 21-12
5. Shannon McPHERSON/Nicole DeBOLT (UNF) def. Sarah Szostak/Emily Greim (SHC) 21-13, 21-9
Ext. Payton Gidney/Taylor Hurst (SHC) def. Taryn GRIFFEY/Madilyn McCARTY (UNF) 21-17, 26-28, 15-3
 
"We are thankful for both Principia and UNF making the trip to the Hill," said SHC head coach Shawn Taylor after the matches. "I thought we came out ready to compete against Principia and with some of our players unavailable for the early match it was great to be able to use some of our depth and still play a high level of volleyball.
 
"Against UNF I thought we did exactly what we needed to," Taylor added. "We just came up a little short. They are a quality program so to drop both matches 2-3 shows that we are making good strides."
 
The Badgers (5-12) will next host the Huntingdon College Hawks at the Jim & Betty Walsh Beach Volleyball Facility on Friday, March 31, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.