TAVARES, Fla. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) Sandy Badgers beach volleyball team split results in the opening pool play round at the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Championships at Hickory Point Beach on Saturday, but won the first round of bracket play in a 5-0 sweep of 5^th-seeded Lincoln Memorial.
 
Eckerd College 4, Spring Hill 1
 
1. Kaitlyn Sibson/Paula Hoffmann (EC) def. Payton Gidney/Julie Vujnovich (SHC) 21-9, 21-16
2. Savanna Cary/Mackenzie Redner (EC) def. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (SHC) 21-19, 21-12
3. Arielle Erillo/Madison Whiting (EC) def. Caroline Herrera/Allison Weimer (SHC) 21-17, 21-13
4. Catherine Milwee/Taylor Hurst (SHC) def. Jordan Duffy/Fernanda Reis (EC) 21-12, 21-13
5. Kali Boatwright/Steph Bogda (EC) def. Emmarose Neibert/Emily Sullivan (SHC) 21-19, 18-21, 15-13
 
Spring Hill 4, Saint Leo 1
 
1. Julie Vujnovich/Payton Gidney (SHC) def. Anna Garrett/Jenya Kruglova (SL) 21-13, 21-16
2. Jamee Townsend/Brooke Turner (SL) def. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (SHC) 17-21, 21-14, 15-12
3. Allison Weimer/Caroline Herrera (SHC) def. Reggie Van Devender/Nina Vattovaz (SL) 21-14, 19-21, 16-14
4. Taylor Hurst/Catherine Milwee (SHC) def. Paloma Da Silva/Britt Sederholm (SL) 21-16, 21-18
5. Emmarose Neibert/Emily Sullivan (SHC) def. Annabella Arcari/Allie Daul (SL) 21-16, 21-10
 
Spring Hill 5, Lincoln Memorial 0
 
1. Julie Vujnovich/Payton Gidney (SHC) def. Danielle Ged/Hailey Lake (LMU) 19-21, 21-13, 15-9
2. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (SHC) def. Abby Cash/Lindsey Nartker (LMU) 21-15, 8-21, 15-11
3. Caroline Herrera/Allison Weimer (SHC) def. Rylee Storms/Erica Whiteaker (LMU) 21-16, 21-19
4. Taylor Hurst/Catherine Milwee (SHC) def. Danielle Stachura/Kai Wesemann (LMU) 21-18, 21-10
5. Emmarose Neibert/Emily Sullivan (SHC) def. Tone Gill/Beka Wachob (LMU) 21-16, 18-21, 15-6
 
After the matches, SHC head coach Shawn Taylor was happy with the way his team responded to a tough opening match. "We got off to a slow start in our first match," he said. "But Eckerd played a large roll in that. Our lone win came at the 4s with Cat and Taylor. We had chances other places, but we just weren't able to convert them. It was a tough draw our first match out."
 
"Against St. Leo we were able to get in a little better rhythm," Taylor said. "I still feel like we were playing a little cautious. We were fortunate to win that 4-1 decision."
 
"We finished out versus LMU in the first round of bracket play," Taylor continued. "They have adjusted their lineup a bit since we last met them and it has made them a deeper and tougher team. We were able to get a 5-0 win, but the overall score isn't indicative of how close the match really was. They are much improved."
 
The 4^th-seeded Badgers (10-7) will next face the top-seeded Texas A&M Kingsville Javelins (14-10) at 10 a.m. Sunday in the second round of bracket play at Hickory Point Beach.