The Mercer women’s sand volleyball team lost three matches in the inaugural Atlantic Sun Women’s Sand Volleyball Championships, knocking them out of the tournament and keeping them from winning a title.
Damien Elder’s team was eliminated from contention for the Atlantic Sun Championship on the first day of play, dropping a pair of contests. Mercer was defeated by Jacksonville 4-1 before losing to North Florida 5-0 at the JU Dolphin Beach Volleyball Complex.
The first flight team of Cassie Roy and Jamie Duffy lost to Jacksonville in a highly contested two-set match, falling short in the first 22-20 and 21-19 in the second against North Florida, the pairing of Roy and Duffy were unable to pull out a win losing in two sets 21-13 and 21-16.
In the second flight, Jennifer Katona and Monica Sanchez lost both sets to Jacksonville 21-16 and 21-13. They also dropped the match to North Florida in two sets as well losing both sets 21-15 and 21-16.
Mercer’s lone point of the day came in the third flight against Jacksonville, as Mercer’s pairing of Caroline Carlton and Emily Rochefort claimed a straight-sets (21-16, 21-13) victory over Niatha Cullen and Nicole Teplitz. After winning a competitive match against JU, Rochefort and Carlton could not pull out a victory against North Florida losing in two sets 21-16 and 23-21.
The fourth flight team made up of Charlayna Braxton and Madison Petsos lost to Jacksonville in two sets in a highly competitive match, dropping the first set 25-23 and the second set 21-16. They also lost both sets to North Florida’s fourth flight team 21-12 and 21-18.
In the fifth flight, Erin Brett and Lizzie Knapper could not garner a win in an intense three-set match. The Bears’ duo would take the first in an impressive 23-21 fashion. They would then drop the next two sets 21-17 and 17-15. Against North Florida, Brett and Knapper lost in two sets, 21-13 and 21-16.
On the second day of play, the sand volleyball squad took on Florida Gulf Coast. Mercer fell by a 4-1.
After claiming a 21-18 first set victory, Mercer’s No. 1 pairing of Cassie Roy and Jamie Duffy dropped the second set by a 21-15 margin, setting the stage for a deciding third frame. Roy and Duffy edged Kaitlin Holm and Holly Youngquist 15-12 in the third set to book Mercer’s only point of the afternoon.
Jennifer Katona and Monica Sanchez lost the second flight in two sets losing the first 21-14 and the second 21-11.
Emily Rochefort and Caroline Carlton also dropped both sets in the third flight match-up, being edged out 21-13 and 21-11.
Charlayna Braxton and Madison Petsos lost their fourth flight matchup in two sets as well, dropping the first 21-12 and only narrowly losing the second 22-20.
Lizzie Knapper and Erin Brett played two extremely close sets, but were unable to prevail against Florida Gulf Coast’s fifth flight team. They lost the first set 21-18, and the second 22-20.
The Bears then went on to face Stetson University. With no one being able to garner a victory, each Mercer pairing lost in two sets.
This concludes the women’s sand volleyball inaugural season. The team will now focus on their indoor season beginning in the fall of 2012.
Damian Elder, sand volleyball finish inaugural season at 1-9
