The Eastern Kentucky University beach volleyball team lost 5-0 to Florida Gulf Coast University in the opening round of the ASUN Beach Volleyball Championship, according to an April 22 announcement.
This match marks a setback for the Colonels as they faced one of the top-seeded teams in the tournament. The outcome affects their chances of advancing further but gives them another opportunity in upcoming matches.
FGCU gained an early lead with straight-set wins in both the No. 1 and No. 2 flights. In flight three, Carlyn Mcallister and Amanda Floystad forced a third set after winning the second set 21-19 but ultimately fell short with a final score of 15-9. The Eagles also secured straight-set victories in flights four and five, clinching their overall win against EKU.
The Colonels will next face Central Arkansas on Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern Time as they seek their second-ever victory in ASUN Tournament history. Last season, EKU eliminated Central Arkansas with a decisive 3-0 win, and earlier this season they won again against the Bears by a narrow margin of 3-2.
The results from each flight were: Molly Shomock and Riley Cutler (16-21, 12-21), Gabriella Armitage and Elpida Pitsigkoni (14-21, 13-21), Amanda Floystad and Carlyn Mcallister (11-21, 21-19, 9-15), Sami Deidesheimer and Arilyn Lee (17-21, 11-21), Zsa Zsa Ferguson and Sutton Sales (19-21, 9–21).
Looking ahead, EKU aims to rebound from this loss as they continue tournament play.
