LOVELAND, Ohio --- The Tusculum University women's beach volleyball team dropped a pair of 3-2 decisions on Saturday (Feb. 24) to wrap up its time at the Grand Sands Tournament.

Next, Tusculum (2-3) heads to the Badger Beach Bash (Mar. 1-2), located in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Pioneers will face Berry, host Spring Hill, Stevenson, Hendrix, and Huntingdon on the weekend.

Match 1: Eastern Kentucky 3, Tusculum 2
The Colonels got the early 2-1 lead, and the Pioneers were unable to battle back.

EKU won the No. 4 flight over Hannah Marsh and Riley Rushing by scores of 21-15, 21-11.

Morgan Browne and Olivia Browne tied the match with their 21-14, 21-13 victory.

The co-hosting Colonels took the top flight against Kyla Oppenhuis and Brynn Smith via a 21-7, 21-11 decision.

EKU clinched at the No. 3 flight versus Charlyn Miller and Katie McLamb by identical scores of 21-15, 21-15.

Tusculum finished out the match with a victory at the fifth pairing. Morgan Willis and Katie Murphy edged out their opposites 21-19, 21-17.

Match 2: Morehead State 3, Tusculum 2
The Pioneers fell 3-2, despite a 2-0 lead and first set victory at the deciding flight.

No. 6 exhibition flight finished first as Diana Bierwagen and Emily Venable tallied a 21-14, 21-13 victory.

At No. 4, Marsh and Rushing collected a 21-18, 21-14 decision.

The Browne twins picked up their second victory of the day behind a 21-15, 22-20 result.

Tusculum started the second wave with a loss at the fifth flight of Willis and Murphy via a 21-16, 21-10 deficit.

Miller and McLamb fell by the exact same scores: 21-16, 21-10.

The top flight ended up being the deciding factor. Smith and Oppenhuis led with a first set score of 21-9, before Morehead State rallied for a 21-17, 15-11 comeback.