Tampa Splits Opening Day at Tampa Tournament
TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa beach volleyball team played at home for the first time during the 2021 season, as the Spartans hosted the Tampa Tournament squaring off against Jacksonville University and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Match 1:
During the first match of the day, the Spartans faced the Dolphins from Jacksonville University. The Spartans would claim the game, earning their first win of the season. In the one, four, and five positions the Spartans dominated, winning each of those pairings in straight sets. In the third position, UT battled back after dropping the first set, winning the second set by two and the third set by four.
In the one position, Julia Oswald and Rachel Rosequist would win in two sets by scores of 21-14 and 21-13. The team of Katie McKiel and Valeria Rosequist would play out of the three-position, dropping the first set 21-16. The duo would bounce back taking the next to sets by final scores of 21-19 and 15-11. In the four-position, Kiersten Anderson and Madison Brunick would win both sets 21-10, and finally in the fifth position, Payton Brunick and Cassidy Ehrie would win their sets 21-17 and 21-8.
1. Julia Oswald /Rachel Rosequist (UT) def. Gracie Garanich/Emilee Wissmach (MER) 21-14, 21-13
2. Elli Merchant/Olivia Boeve (MER) def. Tatiana Gutierrez /Melissa Elias (UT) 21-7, 17-21, 15-13
3. Katie McKiel Valerie Rosequist (UT) def. Maddie Nunley/Kacy Ogden (MER) 16-21, 21-19, 15-11
4. Kiersten Anderson/Madison Brunick (UT) def. Elena Sanfrey/Emily Leonard (MER) 21-10, 21-10
5. Payton Brunick /Cassidy Ehrie (UT) def. Ellie Miller/Hana Robertson (MER) 21-17, 21-8
Dual 2:
In the second game of the day, UT would face FGCU in a match between teams that were unbeaten on the day. The Spartans played the Eagles close but were unable to pull out the victory, dropping the match 3-2. The two victories for Tampa came in the one and five positions. Julia Oswald and Rachel Rosequist would win their game in three sets. Meanwhile, in the fifth position, the team of Payton Brunick and Cassidy Ehrie would win their match in three sets.
1. Julia Oswald / Rachel Rosequist (UT) def. Giovanna Borgiotti/ Kirstine Garder (FGCU) 26-24, 16-21, 15-9
2. Kayla Whetstone/ Kacie Johnson (FGCU) def. Melissa Elias/ Tatiana Gutierrez (UT) 21-15, 23-21
3. Lexie Hamilton/ Maddison Parmelly (FGCU) def. Valerie Rosequist/ Katie McKiel (UT) 21-18, 21-18
4. Madie Lichty/ Emma Hansen (FGCU) def. Kiersten Anderson/ Madison Brunick (UT) 23-21, 9-21, 15-12
5. Payton Brunick/ Cassidy Ehrie (UT) def. Jenna Banz/ Elizabeth Richmond (FGCU) 21-15, 20-22, 15-10
The Spartans will return to action tomorrow as they wrap up the Tampa Tournament against Eckerd and Jacksonville.