Aikman Fang (@AikmanFang) – Spear Beat Reporter
Photo via Titus Wilkinson
SJSU beach volleyball (5-4, 1-4 SLC) came into the Southland Midseason invitational as the only undefeated team but fell in four straight matches over the two-day tournament in Houston, Texas.
Day one of the Southland Midseason Tournament ends on a sour note
Sophomore Isabelle Sistek and freshman Meredith Scott led the Spartans to a win on their first match of the tournament in two sets (21-13, 21-15) against the Colonnels duo of freshmen Taylor Heeb and sophomore Kendall Battistella on Saturday morning. SJSU carried the momentum by sweeping Nicholls State (2-10, 0-5 SLC) 5-0 but had a harder time in its duals against New Orleans (6-4, 2-1 SLC) and Houston Christian (6-6, 4-1 SLC).
Freshmen duo Blaire Fleming and Nayeli Tia won the first match against New Orleans freshman Ashely Salazar and sophomore Ivana de Carvalho Peixe but needed three sets to do so (21-17, 12-21, 15-12). Sistek and Scott also won the next match against the Privateers duo of junior Rita Zecchin and freshman Valentina Echeverri in three sets (15-21, 21-17, 15-13).
SJSU, however, would lose the next three matches against New Orleans with senior Hannah Volpi and junior Valerie Vujnovich defeating seniors Siena Brewster and Amethyst Harper in three sets in the last match of the dual (16-21, 21-18, 15-13).
Houston Christian then handed SJSU its second loss of the season with a 5-0 sweep. The Huskies won the dual in 10 sets, with each match being decided with only two sets.
Slump continues during day two of the Southland Midseason Tournament
Southeastern Lousiana (4-9, 1-3 SLC) defeated SJSU 3-2 to start the final day of the tournament as the Lady Lions duo of senior Jolie Hidalgo and freshman Mia McKinney secured the win by outlasting junior Jaida Ward and senior Cheyenne Rice in three sets (21-19, 20-22, 15-12) in the final match of the dual.
SJSU’s struggles continued in its final matchup of the weekend against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi (9-4, 5-5 SLC), as the Islanders won 4-1 after securing six of the first seven sets. Brewster and Harper gave the Spartans their only win after defeating sophomore Jade Bennett and junior Tori Johnson in straight sets (22-20, 22-20).
“It’s been extremely challenging but the team has stepped up in a big way,” said associate head coach Gary Hodge. “We’re going to take forward a lot of lessons and a lot of wisdom into our championship tournament in April.”
SJSU beach volleyball will try to bounce back when it takes on a four-match home stand next Friday and Saturday hosting USF, Boise State, CSU Bakersfield, and Oregon for the San Jose State Tournament.