Beach Volleyball Goes 1-2 At Day Of Duals

Wednesday, March 6

Atlanta, Ga.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Jacob Hoffman

3/6/2024 9:06:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

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MACON – Beach volleyball scored one victory, but fell to a pair of ranked opponents at the Day of Duals.

The Bears suffered a 5-0 decision to 15th-ranked Florida Atlantic, before taking the 3-2 win over Austin Peay, and finished the day with a 4-1 loss against 16th-ranked Georgia State.

The No. 2 pairing of Nicole O'Mara and Jordan Paddock opened the dual against FAU with a 21-16 victory, but fell 12-21 in the second. The Bears could not overcome the ranked Owls and ultimately dropped the third set, 8-15.

In their second match of the day, the Bears launched a comeback to topple Austin Peay. After dropping their first two matches in three-set affairs, the top three pairs rattled off three consecutive victories.

O'Mara and Paddock, along with the No. 3 pairing of Lexi Polychrones and Reese Hood defeated their opponents in straight sets. The match came down to a dramatic finish between the top dual, which saw Kate Hardie and Sydney Benson take the opening set 21-18, dropping the middle frame 18-21, but clinching the match point for the Bears with a 15-6 final set.

The dual against conference rival Georgia State was highlighted by a three-set victory from the No. 5 pairing of Hollis Engel and Alyssa Scoggins. The duo dropped the opening frame 17-21, but bounced back with a 21-18 victory in the second set. In the tie-breaking third set, the pair came back from an early 4-0 deficit to outlast the Panthers 16-14.

The Bears will be back in action next weekend when they play host to LaGrange and Carson-Newman. The two-day event begins March 15.