COVINGTON, La. – The Spring Hill College (SH) Sandy Badgers beach volleyball team split results at the opening day of the New Orleans Invitational hosted by the University of New Orleans (UNO) Privateers at Digs Volleyball Complex on Friday afternoon. SHC began the day with a 4-1 victory over the Nicholls State University (NSU) Colonels (1-3) before bowing to their former head coach Shawn Taylor and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Golden Eagles (2-2) by a 3-2 score.
 
The USM match was decided only on the day's last court (No. 1s) in a tie-breaking third set with the Eagles clawing out a heart-breaking 15-11 victory over the Badgers.
 
Spring Hill 4, Nicholls St. 1
1. Emily Venable/Emily Gauthreaux (NSU) def Payton Gidney/Mikayla Boyer (SH) 19-21, 22-20, 15-11
2. Brittany Bilotti/Kassandra Fairly (SH) def. Kylie Lockhart/Jackie Alanis (NSU) 21-16, 21-15
3. Emmarose Neibert/Allison Weimer (SH) def. Devon Bright/Jaida Felix (NSU) 21-12, 21-18
4. Cassidi Sterrett/Sarah Senft (SH) def. Katie Jones/Bailey Lyons (NSU) 21-13, 21-11
5. Leanne Sorrel/Taylor Hurst (SH) def. Meghan Wozniak/Halee Brewer (NSU) 21-7, 21-13
Ext. Ryann Horkavy/Emily Sullivan (SH) def. Rebecka Bollinger/Karmen Peterson (NSU) 21-11, 21-17
 
Southern Miss. 3, Spring Hill 2
1. Kylie Grandy/Abbey Wilson (USM) def. Gidney/Boyer (SH) 12-21, 21-12, 15-9
2. Bilotti/Fairly (SH) def. Piper Matsumoto/Madison Lawler (USM) 21-18, 21-9
3. Neibert/Weimer (SH) def. Hallie Phelan/Haley Hop (USM) 21-19, 21-15
4. Breleigh Favre/Olivia Hepworth (USM) def. Sterrett/Senft (SH) 22-20, 21-16
5. Kinsley Hanback/Kellie Garraway (USM) def. Sorrel/Taylor (SH) 21-11, 21-14
Ext. Natalie Bonner/Sullivan (SH) def. Lindsey Smith/Kaile Tuisamatatele (USM) 21-11, 21-12
 
The Badgers (6-6) continue play in the New Orleans Invitational on Saturday versus the Texas A&M – Kingsville (TAMK) Javelina (6-1) at 9 a.m. followed by the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) Warhawks (2-7) at 1 p.m.