Flyers Battle but Come Up Short Against Richard Bland

The Sandhills Community College beach volleyball team dropped both matches of Friday's doubleheader to the Richard Bland College Statesmen, falling 5-0 in the opener and 3-2 in a tightly contested second match.

In Match 1, the Statesmen secured the 5-0 sweep, but several flights featured competitive stretches. At the No. 1 position, Brooke Emore and Olivia Rosy pushed Taelin Connolley and Daniela Sardina in the second set before falling 21-13, 24-22. The No. 2 pair of Katelyn Bunting and Regan Malpass battled through three sets in one of the most competitive matches of the day, dropping a narrow 15-13 decision in the third after splitting the first two sets (21-17, 14-21). Emery Freeman and Regan Smith (Pair 3), Taylor Miller and Jaselyn Fink (Pair 4), and Olivia Bowman and Kennedy Koziarz (Pair 5) continued to compete throughout their matches.

The Flyers responded with resilience in Match 2, narrowing the margin to 3-2. Bunting and Malpass earned a straight-sets victory at No. 2 (21-16, 21-18), showcasing strong defensive play and controlled offense. At No. 5, Jacque Holden and Alyssa Ingle secured another point for Sandhills with a 21-17, 21-17 win. Emore and Rosy (Pair 1) and Miller and Fink (Pair 3) both battled in competitive stretches, with Miller and Fink forcing extra points in a tight second set before falling 22-20. 

Sandhills will look to regroup as they hit the road Tuesday, March 3, for a doubleheader at Salem College with matches scheduled for 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. The Flyers return home Thursday, March 5, for a Region 10 doubleheader against Richard Bland at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.