Lady Flyers Host St. Andrews University in Beach Volleyball Doubleheader

The Sandhills Community College Flyers' beach volleyball team returned to action this Tuesday afternoon, welcoming St. Andrews University for an intense doubleheader. Despite their efforts, the Lady Flyers faced tough competition, ending the day with an 0-2 record after losing the first match 4-1 and the second 3-2.

In the opening match, freshmen Jenna Luquer and Aydan Bullard secured a strong start for the Flyers with a two-set victory (21-15, 21-13), while Emma Brown and Caroline Bradford fought hard but ultimately lost in a closely contested two-set match (21-17, 21-17). Nikki Lambert and Olivia Barlowe, Lainey Mullins and Dajsha Fields, and Alexis Hinson and Alyssa Maragelis all faced formidable opponents, resulting in two-set losses across the board, granting the Knights a 4-1 victory.

Reflecting on the match, Bullard remarked, "I feel like going in with the mentality that we're going to win helped us in the first game." She added, "I feel like the first game was the better pair, and it really helped us, having that mentality that we were going to get the job done."

In the subsequent game, Luquer and Bullard once again demonstrated their prowess, clinching another two-set victory (21-13, 21-16) for the Flyers. Despite their best efforts, Bradford and Brown narrowly missed out in two sets (21-19, 21-13). Lambert and Barlowe, Hinson and Maragelis, and Fields and Mullins each fought hard but faced defeat in two sets, with Fields and Mullins concluding the day with a hard-fought win in a three-set thriller (21-13, 17-21, 15-9). This effort wasn't enough as St. Andrews secured a 3-2 win to close out the day.

"I think me and Lainey just really needed a win, and that was my only goal to win it for her," expressed Fields, highlighting the importance of communication and teamwork in the sport. Bullard echoed this sentiment, saying, "Me and Jenna are best friends. We do it for each other."

Looking back on the day, Coach Riggan noted, "In the second game, we kind of realized we can do all of the things they're doing too, we just have to work really hard for every point." She emphasized the team's focus and work ethic as crucial factors in their performance.

With this doubleheader, the Lady Flyers' season record now stands at 6-10. They will play a rematch against St. Andrews on April 16th, aiming to deliver a more evenly matched contest. The team will have a week off before their next games, scheduled for April 5th in a doubleheader against Spartanburg Methodist College.

"I'm always excited about the competition," remarked Fields, emphasizing the team's continuous learning and growth with each game in this challenging season.

T. Ratcliff