MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State Beach Volleyball was edged 3-2 by Austin Peay and Tusculum (Tenn.) on Friday to open the 2026 season as the Eagles are taking part in the Grand Sands Tournament in Loveland, Ohio.
Against APSU, MSU picked up wins in the number two and four pairs. In the match against the Pioneers, the top two Eagle pairs collected the victories.
In the opener versus Austin Peay, at No. 2,
M.E. Hargan teamed with
Shea Hefner to hand Aly Cooper and Jordan Benetreau a 21-17, 21-16 defeat. Over on court four, newcomer
Haylee DePonte collected her first Eagle win as she teamed with
Amelia Nott for a 21-16, 21-19 triumph against Aubreigh Oswald and Addi Hulquist.
MSU took a pair of matches to third frames before falling. At No. 1,
Sarah Heath and
Bella Marita lost 19-21, 21-18, 10-15. At No. 5, newcomer
Cady Hatch and returner
Sydney Sennett had a similar result. The dropped the first set 21-19, rallied to take the second 21-19, and dropped the third 15-7.
Hollan Everett and Landyn Snowdyn succumbed in straight sets at No. 3.Â
MSU was able to secure a win in the exhibition contest as returnees
Lily-Kate Carver and
Tinsley Brown prevailed 21-17, 21-15.
Tusculum picked up the win over MSU in the nightcap as an injury forced an unfortunate forfeit in dual three, and that was the deciding factor.
Hargan and Marita combined for the win at No. 1 as they rallied and beat Hannah Marsh and Sylvia Liszewski 10-21, 21-16, 15-11. On court two, it was another three-setter and Heath and Hefner raced past and outlasted Brynn Smith and Dasha Nikolaeva 16-21, 21-12, 20-18.
Nott and Snowden fell in straight sets at No. 4, and Sennett and Hatch also fell in the same fashion in straights in pair five.
Once again, the exhibition match went in the Eagles' favor as newcomers
Riley McCloskey and
Addie Freed scored a 2-0 win (21-17, 21-13).Â
The Eagles wrap up Grand Sands Saturday against Liberty at 8 a.m. ET and Eastern Kentucky at Noon.
