TAVARES, Fla. - The Spring Hill College Sandy Badgers opened pool play at AVCA Small College Beach Championships Friday with a pair of victories, knocking off Lincoln Memorial University, 4-1, and Carson-Newman College, 3-0, at the Hickory Point Beach Complex.
 

Spring Hill head coach Shawn Taylor was happy with his team's performance on the day.

"The Sandy Badgers got off to a great start," said Taylor. "Lincoln Memorial came out strong in the first match of the day and did a good job of challenging us early. I thought we finally settled into a good rhythm towards the end of the first set across the board. We were able to string together straight-set victories for pairs 2 through 5. With 5 courts running simultaneously, it's hard to keep up with all the action, but I thought we were able to put pressure on them from service line."  

First off the court for Spring Hill (16-10) was the No. 3 pairing of Brittany Bilotti and Sarah Senft, who beat Kai Wesemann and Sarah Jones, 21-11, 21-16. Next came the Sandy Badgers' No. 4 team of Taylor Hurst and Cassidi Sterrett, who got past Erica Whiteaker and Tone Gill, 21-16, 21-16. Allison Weimer and Caroline Herrera won the No. 2 match, 21-18, 21-16 over Danielle Ged and Danielle Stachura at No. 2 and Emmarose Neibert and Emily Greim beat Caitlin Bethell and Emily Walter, 22-20, 21-11 at No. 5. The No. 1 match between Spring Hill's Payton Gidney and Kassandra Fairly and the Railsplitters' duo of Lindsey Nartker and Rylee Storms split sets, 21-18, 13-21, but with the Sandy Badgers already having clinched the match, Spring Hill retired to give Lincoln Memorial (6-9) its lone win.

The Sandy Badgers then took care of Carson-Newman (2-23) in decisive fashion, winning in straight sets in the three matches that were completed.

"After a short break, we were back at it against Carson-Newman," said Taylor. "The wind picked up for this match, requiring us to adapt our game plan. I think it took us a few points to figure out the serve and pass game, but once we did we were able to again put them in some tough situations and come away with the victory."  

Gidney and Fairly teamed for a 21-17, 21-8 win over Summer Coulter and Abby Struewing at No. 1, Weimer and Herrera posted a 21-9, 21-7 victory over Grace Seymour and Monty Sauter in the No. 2 match and Hurst and Sterrett won 21-15, 21-19 over Lexy Headley and Lauren Williams at No. 4 to finish off the win for the Sandy Badgers.

Along with the tournament, there is a "Best of the Rest" competition being conducted, where players outside each of the tournament teams' lineups get a chance to compete against one another. The Sandy Badgers enjoyed some success here as well, which also pleased Taylor greatly.
 

"Leanne Sorrel and Emily Sullivan played incredibly well and were able to pick up two wins today," said Taylor. "Landon Lake and Bentley Odom were also able to pick up their first ever post season victories as well."   
 

Sorrel and Sullivan teamed up to beat Tampa's Marisa Beisner and Kiana Sawtelle, 21-14, 21-18 and Texas A&M-Kingsville's Maelee Sowa and Kadi Shipman, 21-18, 21-12. Lake and Odom beat Lincoln Memorial's Abby Higgins and Brooke Taylor, 21-17, 21-9. The Spring Hill team of Patty Blood and Ryann Horkavy also competed on Friday, falling to Stevenson's Julia Nightwine and Victoria Prokic, 21-9, 21-16 and losing to Grayson Hall and Kathleen Doherty from Tampa, 21-13, 21-10. Lake and Odom will meet  Tampa duo Nylah Demps and Caroline Pomet to start the morning Saturday.
 

Spring Hill (16-10) will conclude pool play Saturday morning at 9 a.m. ET versus Florida Southern (12-13) before entering Challenge Pool play later on Saturday. SHC is 2-0 in the pool, while FSC is 1-1. The Sandy Badgers' opponents and match times for the Challenge Pool will be determined after the Florida Southern match is concluded.
 

"The lightning and rain set things back, so we'll be playing to hopefully clinch the No. 1 seed from our pool on Saturday morning," said Taylor. "That will determine our schedule and opponents for the challenge round Saturday. We need to keep the loose, but focused mentality and embrace the opportunity to compete. If we can do that, I think we can play with anyone."

at Tavares, Fla.
 
RESULTS

1. Lindsey Nartker/Rylee Storms (LMU) def. Payton Gidney/Kassandra Fairly (SHC) 21-18, 13-21, ret.

2. Allison Weimer/Caroline Herrera (SHC) def. Danielle Ged/Danielle Stachura (LMU) 21-18, 21-16

3. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (SHC) def. Kai Wesemann/Sarah Jones (LMU) 21-11, 21-16

4. Taylor Hurst/Cassidi Sterrett (SHC) def. Erica Whiteaker/Tone Gill (LMU) 21-16, 21-16

5. Emmarose Neibert/Emily Greim (SHC) def. Caitlin Bethell/Emily Walter (LMU) 22-20, 21-11

Order of finish: 3, 4, 2, 5, 1
 

1. Payton Gidney/Kassandra Failry (SHC) def. Summer Coulter/Abby Struewing (C-N), 21-17, 21-8

2. Allison Weimer/Caroline Herrera (SHC) def. Grace Seymour/Monty Sauter (C-N), 21-9, 21-7

3. Brittany Bilotti/Sarah Senft (SHC)  vs. Ary Fazelina/Kelly Hughes (C-N) DNF

4. Taylor Hurst/Cassidi Sterrett (SHC) def. Lexy Headley/Lauren Williams (C-N), 21-15, 21-19

5. Emmarose Neibert/Emily Greim (SHC) vs. Tayrn Nichols/Dilyn Palmer (C-N) DNF

Best of the Rest Competition

Leanne Sorrel/Emily Sullivan (SHC) def. Marisa Beisner/Kiana Sawtelle (Tampa), 21-14, 21-18

Leanne Sorrell/Emily Sullivan (SHC) def. Maelee Sowa/Kadi Shipman (TAMU-K), 21-18, 21-12

Julia Nightwine/Victoria Prokic (Stevenson) def. Patty Blood/Ryann Horkavy (SHC), 21-9, 21-16

Grayson Hall/Kathleen Doherty (Tampa) def. Patty Blood/Ryann Horkavy (SHC), 21-13, 21-10

Landen Lake/Bentley Odom (SHC) def. Abby Higgins/Brooke Taylor (LMU), 21-17, 21-9