SALISBURY, N.C. --- The Tusculum University beach volleyball team kicked off the inaugural SAC Beach Challenge, hosted by Catawba College, with the program's first win over Lincoln Memorial by a score of 4-1.
The other three South Atlantic Conference schools that sponsor beach volleyball (Carson-Newman, Catawba, and Lincoln Memorial) are competing round-robin style during the two-day event.
Tusculum (5-9) completes play at the tournament on Saturday, May 1. The Pioneers will face the hosting Indians at 1 p.m., followed by the archrival Eagles at 4 p.m.
TU's top two pairings of Emma Johnson/Haley Davis and Olivia O'Keefe/Charlyn Miller won by identical 21-12, 21-13 scores.
Skyellar Hall and Emily Lawless battled for their eighth win of the season as the fourth flight, coming out victorious in a 24-22, 21-18 decision.
The 5's, Mabry Ward and Arizona Webb, have won their third consecutive contest, downing their Railsplitter opposites 21-15, 21-19.
The Pioneers also came out on top in the exhibition sixth flight, thanks to a 21-15, 15-21, 15-9 triumph by Destiny Ramsey and Madalyn Bass.
The lone loss to the Railsplitters came at the No. 3 pairs. Britney Shawel and Diana Bierwagen forced a decisive third set, but ultimately fell 20-22, 21-14, 9-15.
