COVINGTON, La. - The Spring Hill College Sandy Badgers continued their perfect start to the 2019 season Friday with a pair of victories at the UNO Beach Volleyball Invitational at the Digs Volleyball Complex.

Spring Hill (5-0) blanked Nicholls State and Huntingdon College by identical 5-0 scores and Sandy Badgers head coach Shawn Taylor was happy with his team's performance in both matches.

"It was great to see the sunshine today," said Taylor. "That's been lacking the last couple of weeks. We started off the day versus Nicholls State and got on the board early picking up wins at the Nos. 4, 5, and 6 positions. Landen Lake and Leanne Sorrel played at the No. 6 and got behind early in the first set, but rallied late and found a way to edge out their opponent before going on to take the 2-0 victory. We made a couple of moves in our lineup. Cassidi Sterrett partnered up with Emily Sullivan and they were able pick up a win in the early going. Patty (Blood) accepted the challenge of playing at the No. 1 with Gid (Payton Gidney) and we didn't miss a beat." 

Spring Hill's Gidney and Blood teamed for a 21-17, 21-14 win over Emily Weimer and Jennifer Olivarez in the No. 1 slot, Taylor Hurst and Brittany Bilotti knocked off Emily Gauthreaux and Kylie Lockhart, 21-18, 21-14 at No. 2 and Caroline Herrera and Allison Weimer beat Maddie Lowe and Meghan Wozniak, 21-19, 21-5 in the No. 3 match.

Spring Hill's No. 4 pairing of Emily Greim and Sarah Senft beat Emily Venable and Katie Jones, 21-12, 21-13, Sterrett and Sullivan beat Lydia Frederick and Sydney Swann, 21-15, 21-9 at No. 5 and Lake and Sorrel rallied for a 23-21, 21-11 victory over Kimberly Iwunze and Aaliyah Burras in the No. 6 match.

Taylor made some more adjustments to the Sandy Badgers' lineup for the match with Huntingdon, but Spring Hill had no issues and was able to earn its second sweep of the day.

"The fact that we can change things up and still have success demonstrates the depth we are starting to develop in our program," said Taylor. "Walking away from last weekend, we were happy with the result, but I felt we could have done a better job of carrying over into matches what we've been working on in training sessions. It has been a focus for us this week and there have been noticeable changes. It feels great having things carry over from practice to match play."

Sorrel and Fairly knocked off Cheyenne Scarbrough and Halee Hatcher, 21-9, 21-16 in the No. 1 match, Bilotti and Hurst teamed up to beat Kaitlyn Carter and Shelby McAllister, 21-12, 21-6 at No. 2 and Spring Hill's No. 3 team of Herrera and Weimer got past Nichole LeFevere and Addison Genard, 21-12, 21-10.

Greim and Senft got past Amy Tyma and Lexie DeVuyst, 21-15, 21-11 at No. 4, Emmarose Neibert and Sterrett beat April Reese and Alexis Creasman, 21-11, 23-21 in the No. 5 match and Lake and Blood knocked off Jessica Brunk and Bailie Cross by identical 21-16, 21-16 scores at No. 6.

The Sandy Badgers will finish tournament play today, taking on Southern Mississippi and New Orleans at 1 and 5 p.m., respectively. Spring Hill knocked off Southern Miss, 4-1, on Feb. 23 at the Jim and Betty Walsh Beach Volleyball Facility.

"We know we have two quality opponents in Southern Miss and UNO (Saturday)," said Taylor. "I think the team is looking forward to another opportunity to compete." 

Spring Hill returns home on March 19, when the Sandy Badgers host Principia College and William Carey at 1 and 6 p.m., respectively. The William Carey match will serve as Spring Hill's Senior Night.

Friday, March 1
at Digs Volleyball Complex - Covington, La.

Spring Hill 5, Nicholls St. 0
1. Payton Gidney/Patty Blood (SHC) def. Emily Weimer/Jennifer Olivarez (NSU) 21-17, 21-14
2. Taylor Hurst/Brittany Bilotti (SHC) def. Emily Gauthreaux/Kylie Lockhart (NSU) 21-18, 21-14
3. Caroline Herrera/Allison Weimer (SHC) def. Maddie Lowe/Meghan Wozniak (NSU) 21-19, 21-5
4. Emily Greim/Sarah Senft (SHC) def. Emily Venable/Katie Jones (NSU) 21-12, 21-13
5. Cassidi Sterrett/Emily Sullivan (SHC) def. Lydia Frederick/Sydney Swann (NSU) 21-15, 21-9
6. Landen Lake/Leanne Sorrel (SHC) def. Kimberly Iwunze/Aaliyah Burras (NSU) 23-21, 21-11

Spring Hill 5, Huntingdon College 0
1. Leanne Sorrel/Kassandra Fairly (SHC) def. Cheyenne Scarbrough/Halee Hatcher (HC) 21-9, 21-16
2. Brittany Bilotti/Taylor Hurst (SHC) def. Kaitlyn Carter/Shelby McAllister (HC) 21-12, 21-16
3. Caroline Herrera/Allison Weimer (SHC) def. Nichole LeFevre/Addison Genard (HC) 21-12, 21-10
4. Sarah Senft/Emily Greim (SHC) def. Amy Tyma/Lexie DeVuyst (HC) 21-15, 21-11
5. Emmarose Neibert/Cassidi Sterrett (SHC) def. April Reese/Alexis Creasman (HC) 21-11, 23-21
6. Patty Blood/Landen Lake (SHC) def. Jessica Brunk/Bailie Cross (HC) 21-16, 21-16