ST. LOUIS—[MATCH 1 BOX] [MATCH 2 BOX] In its return to the beach for season two, Missouri Baptist posted its first win of the season in Texas. At the Texas A&M Kingsville Tournament, the Spartans snagged their first win against Principia (Ill.) before dropping the finale against NCAA D-III Stevenson (Md.) in the nightcap on Friday.
Missouri Baptist (1-1) continued to roll with its No. 1 team of Hannah Carey and Jen Brendel. The duo picked-up two wins on the day with a clean sweep over Cha Cha Fisher and Sophia Hathaway of Principia 21-12, 21-12. It took three sets for the team in the second match against Stevenson's Kristen Brooks and Samantha Perillo, but the result was the same in a 21-17, 21-23, 15-7 win.
Kamden Maas and Cate Cigarini enjoyed success in their first outing as well. It is the first match the new Spartan No. 2 team competed together and their work in practice paid off with a dominant win over Emily Tippetts and Nikki Matters of Principia, 21-10 and 21-12.
Missouri Baptist's No. 3 squad of Marija Tosic and Sarah Bolton powered to their first win of the season as well over Principia's Makena Patterson and Noelle Shoemake. After a 21-15 victory, the team dominated the second set and posted the biggest margin of victory this season with a 21-5 dismantling of their competition.
Newcomers Kelly Wilson and Kelly Hughes also picked-up their first win together at No. 4 in a well-balanced fight with Principia's Amanda Roberts and Devon Marunde. After a 21-15 win, the team dropped the second set 21-12 before fighting back for a 15-8 win in the tiebreak set.
Perhaps the most even, and most exciting match came at No. 5 as Natalie Hecht and Amanda Thibodeaux took on Mia Gill and Zoe Mahler. The Spartans dropped set one, 21-19, but came back for a 21-18 set two win to force the tiebreak set. In a see saw battle, Principia earned a 15-12 win and took home their lone point of the match.
Missouri Baptist picked-up their lone win against Stevenson at No. 1.
Also of note was the first action in the newly minted careers of Megan and Kristen Williams. The sister act split their decisions in exhibition action as well with a win against Principia and a loss to Stevenson.
Missouri Baptist will head back to work on Saturday when the team will face Texas A&M Kingsville and Principia before heading back to St. Louis.
