GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Spring Hill College Sandy Badgers split their two matches Saturday at the March to May Tournament at The Hangout at Gulf Shores, marking the second straight day Spring Hill broke even in the win-loss columns.

Spring Hill (9-2) opened play with a 4-1 victory over Southern Mississippi before coming up on the short end of a 3-2 decision against Houston Baptist in its final match of the day.

Spring Hill started its day with its third win in as many matches this season against Southern Mississippi. Spring Hill head coach Shawn Taylor said there were some small differences in Saturday's match against the Golden Eagles, but his players were able to adjust and be successful.

"We found ourselves against a common foe for the first match, playing Southern Miss," said Taylor. "However, the format changed. Rather than playing three pairs at a time, the tournament hosts elected to play all five pairs simultaneously. While this change was unanticipated, it did provide us the opportunity to use the exact same format we use at the AVCA Small College Championship in a few weeks. Also, the wind picked up today. We embrace playing in these conditions, as it requires a different array of tools and mindset. We used this to jump out early in just about every pair." 

Spring Hill's Payton Gidney and Kassandra Fairly beat Kylie Grandy and Lindsey Legg, 21-12, 21-18 in the No. 1 slot, the Sandy Badgers' duo of Brittany Bilotti and Taylor Hurst knocked off Abbey Wilson and Cyan Blackdeer, 21-10, 21-19 at No. 2, Sarah Senft and Emily Greim beat Olivia Hepworth and Breleigh Favre, 21-14, 21-19 at No. 4 for the Sandy Badgers and Emmarose Neibert and at No. 5, Emily Sullivan edged past Jessica Austin and Maddie Lawler, 22-20, 15-21, 15-12 for Spring Hill. The Golden Eagles picked up their win at No. 3, where Piper Matsumoto and Kellie Garraway got by Caroline Herrera and Allison Weimer, 23-21, 17-21, 15-9.
Taylor said the Houston Baptist match was one where the Huskies were able to do just enough to get past his team.

"Houston Baptist came ready to play," said Taylor. "We really competed well with them and in fact were up, 2-1, in the match and it came down to the No. 3 and No. 5 matches. It would have been great to win one there and set ourselves up for the potential of a four-game win streak leaving the weekend, but Houston Baptist was just a little better than us today." 

Against Houston Baptist, the Sandy Badgers got victories at No. 2 and No. 4. Bilotti and Hurst won, 21-17, 21-15 over Natalie Bennett and Maddie Butters in the No. 2 match and the duo of Senft and Greim beat Conley Harris and Lindsey Harris, 21-18, 21-17 at No. 4. However, the Huskies took the other three matches to eke out the win. At No. 1, Tori Hinojosa and Bailey Banks got past Gidney and Fairly, 21-17, 21-15, Kylie Bryan and Lauren Huggins beat Herrera and Weimer, 21-15, 21-19 in the No. 3 slot and Megan Carter and Danielle Wheeler earned a 21-18, 21-17 win over Neibert and Sullivan at No. 5.

The Sandy Badgers conclude tournament play Sunday morning against Austin Peay. First serve for the match is set for 8:40 a.m. and Taylor hopes his team can finish the tournament on a high note.

"We finish (Sunday) at 8:40, as reflected by the newly revised schedule, versus Austin Peay," said Taylor. "Several students from Spring Hill, both past and present, along with friends and family of the program have been incredibly supportive during the tournament. It would be great to cap the weekend with a victory."

Spring Hill returns home to the Jim and Betty Walsh Beach Volleyball Facility on March 16, when the Sandy Badgers host Principia College at 1 p.m. and William Carey University at 6 p.m. The William Carey match will serve as Senior Night for the Sandy Badgers.

March to May Tournament
at The Hangout at Gulf Shores
Spring Hill 4, Southern Miss 1
Court 1:  Payton Gidney/Kassandra Fairly (SH) def. Kylie Grandy/Lindsey Legg (SM) 21-12, 21-18
Court 2:  Brittany Bilotti/Taylor Hurst (SH) def. Abbey Wilson/Cyan Blackdeer (SM) 21-10, 21-19
Court 3:  Piper Matsumoto/Kellie Garraway (SM) def. Caroline Herrera/Allison Weimer (SH) 23-21, 17-21, 15-9
Court 4: Sarah Senft/Emily Greim (SH) def. Olivia Hepworth/Breleigh Favre (SM) 21-14, 21-19
Court 5: Emmarose Neibert/Emily Sullivan (SH) def. Jessica Austin/Maddie Lawler (SM) 22-20, 15-21, 15-12
Houston Baptist 3, Spring Hill 2
Court 1: Tori Hinojosa/Bailey Banks (HB) def. Payton Gidney/Kassandra Fairly (SH) 21-17, 21-15
Court 2: Brittany Bilotti/Taylor Hurst (SH) def. Natalie Bennett/Maddie Butters (HB) 21-17, 21-15
Court 3: Kylie Bryan/Lauren Huggins (HB) def. Caroline Herrera/Allison Weimer (SH) 21-15, 21-19
Court 4: Sarah Senft/Emily Greim (SH) def. Conley Harris/Lindsey Harris (HB) 21-18, 21-17
Court 5: Meagan Carter/Danielle Wheeler (HB) def. Emmarose Neibert/Emily Sullivan (SH) 21-18, 21-17