COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Chattanooga Beach Volleyball team, the preseason OVC No. 1 ranked squad, started its season on Friday with a pair of 3-2 losses at the Wheeler Beach Bash. In the morning match, the Mocs were defeated by Coastal Carolina, before falling to Texas A&M - Corpus Christi by the same scoreline in the afternoon. 

Chattanooga vs. Coastal Carolina - L, 2-3
The Chanticleers got on the board first, as the Mocs duo of Corina Vale and Julia Lawrence were defeated on Court 2 by Maya McNabney and Kristyna Koblizkova in straight sets 18-21, 15-21. UTC responded as Taylor Clark and Ashli McKenny took down Ella Wadsworth and Ava Novello 21-14, 21-18 for their first win as a pair in the No. 4 position.

Coastal took back the lead soon afterwards as Sydney Jackwin and Ansley Gulledge fell to Madeline Sigmon and Courtney Burnham 15-21, 16-21 in the No. 3 slot. The senior duo of McKenna Faychak and Maddie Lecik for UTC manned the No. 1 position and gutted out a three-set win over Frida Meincke Lyo and Emma Kunaus 15-21, 21-19, 17-15 to tie the match back up again at two apiece. 

The deciding match was in the No. 5 slot as Ava Goryl and Madison LaRue fell 15-21, 25-23, 6-15 in a competitive three-set match.

Chattanooga moves to 0-4 all-time against Coastal Carolina. The 2-3 result was the closest match these two sides have ever played. 

1. McKenna Faychak/Maddie Lecik (UTC) def. Frida Meincke Lyo/Emma Kunaus (CCU) 15-21, 21-19, 17-15
2. Maya McNabney/Kristyna Koblizkova (CCU) def. Corina Vale/Julia Lawrence (UTC) 21-18, 21-15
3. Madeline Sigmon/Courtney Burnham (CCU) def. Sydney Jackwin/Ansley Gulledge (UTC) 21-15, 21-16
4. Taylor Clark/Ashli McKenny (UTC) def. Ella Wadsworth/Ava Novello (CCU) 21-14, 21-18
5. Jillian Stein/Anna Rita (CCU) def. Ava Goryl/Madison LaRue (UTC) 21-15, 23-25, 15-6

Order of finish: (2,4,3,1,5)

Chattanooga vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi - L, 2-3
The Islanders took the first point of the afternoon, as Vale and Lawrence fell to Duda Fernandes de Millie Olsson 16-21,14-21 in the No. 2 slot. The next match to finish was on Court 4 as Clark and McKenny earned their second win of the day, taking down Mil Maxwell Berthou and Prio Borick 21-18, 21-15, tying the team score at one. 

The Mocs took their first team lead of the day after Jackwin and Gulledge defeated Lizzie Denyer 21-12, 21-16 with no issues in the No. 3 position. Another straight set match was in the No. 5 ranked match, but this one went Corpus Christi's way. LaRue and Goryl lost to Mia Stevens and Ashlyn Rough 14-21, 12-21.

It all came down to the top ranked match, which went all three sets, coming down to the final points. That being said Faychak and Lecik came up just short, falling to Kristin Bobay and Madison Morrow 21-19, 16-21, 13-15.

Friday marked the first meeting between the Mocs and the Islanders, as UTC drops to 0-1 all-time in the series between two programs. 

1. Kristin Bobay/Madison Morrow (AMCC) def. McKenna Faychak/Maddie Lecik (UTC) 19-21, 21-16, 15-13
2. Duda Fernandes de M/Millie Olsson (AMCC) def. Julia Lawrence/Corina Vale (UTC) 21-16, 21-14
3. Ansley Gulledge/Sydney Jackwin (UTC) def. Lizzie Denyer/Emily Wood (AMCC) 21-12, 21-16
4. Taylor Clark/Ashli McKenny (UTC) def. Mil Maxwell Berthou/Prior Borick (AMCC) 21-18, 21-15
5. Mia Stevens/Ashlyn Rough (AMCC) def. Madison LaRue/Ava Goryl (UTC) 21-14, 21-12

Order of finish: (2,4,6,3,5,1) 

Up Next: Chattanooga returns to the sand tomorrow afternoon for day two of the Wheeler Beach Bash. Chattanooga plays tournament hosts, South Carolina, at 1 p.m., before closing the weekend against Austin Peay at 3 p.m. 

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