Flyers Split Doubleheader with Strong Performance in Game Two

The Sandhills Community College beach volleyball team battled through a competitive doubleheader yesterday, falling just short in Game One but bouncing back with a dominant win in Game Two. The Flyers lost the first match 3-2 but responded with an impressive 4-1 victory in the second match.

Game One: Narrow Defeat for the Flyers

The opening match saw a tightly contested battle, with Sandhills taking two matches but coming up just short in the overall team score. Caroline Bradford and Jenna Luquer opened play against Liv Garzelloni and Abby Carver and staged an incredible comeback after dropping the first set. They forced a decisive third set and emerged victorious, winning 9-21, 21-18, 15-12. 

Zoey Hall and Julia Emore also played in the opening wave but ran into a tough challenge against Maddi Fisher and Mary Barnes, falling 10-21, 22-24 in a close second set.

With the match tied 1-1, the second wave of Flyers pairs took the court. Lainey Mullins and Reagan Smith put together a strong performance, battling through three sets to defeat Amber Bittner and Marci Vicente 21-17, 18-21, 15-11. However, both remaining Sandhills pairs fell in competitive matches. Aiden Bullard and Nikki Lambert dropped their match 10-21, 15-21 to Chloe Stein and Gabby Carter, while Jacque Holden and Emery Freeman fought hard but came up short against Skyler Brokowski and Morgan Barnes, 18-21, 18-21. 

Despite the loss, the Flyers showed resilience and depth, setting the stage for a strong response in Game Two. 

Game Two: Flyers Dominate for 4-1 Victory 

Sandhills rebounded in Game Two, winning four of five matches and demonstrating impressive adjustments from the earlier contest. Once again, Bradford and Luquer led off, but this time they faced a tough challenge from Garzelloni and Carver, falling 14-21, 9-21. With that result, the Flyers found themselves in an early 0-1 hole.

Needing a spark, Hall and Emore delivered in the opening wave, taking control against Fisher and Barnes to secure a 21-15, 21-19 victory. Their win leveled the overall match at 1-1 and provided momentum heading into the second wave of play. 

The remaining three Sandhills pairs took full advantage. Bullard and Lambert bounced back in a big way, grinding out a hard-fought 24-22, 21-18 win over Stein and Carter. Mullins and Smith continued their strong play, winning another three-set battle against Bittner and Vicente 21-19, 16-21, 15-9. With those two victories, the Flyers clinched the team win at 3-1, but Holden and Freeman made sure to finish the day in strong fashion, defeating Brokowski and Barnes 25-12, 18-21, 15-10. 

The Flyers' ability to bounce back between matches was key in securing the split. 

The Flyers will look to build on their success as they prepare for their next matchup at Richard Bland College on Friday afternoon.