GULF SHORES, Ala. --- The Tusculum University women's beach volleyball team suffered a pair of losses on day one of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Beach Championships.

Tusculum (11-15) will play in Challenge Round 4 on Friday (Apr. 18) against Southwest Baptist and Wingate at 10:05 a.m. and 5:40 p.m., respectively (EDT). The winner of the challenge pool will receive a bye for the Bronze Bracket.

Match 1: CUI 3, Tusculum 0
The Pioneers were shut out by the top seed Concordia University Irvine.

The Golden Eagles won at the first, fourth, and fifth flights to take the contest.

Hannah Marsh and Brynn Smith fell 21-8, 21-7 at the top pair. 

Kyla Oppenhuis and Landry Tea dropped a 21-7, 21-14 decision at No. 4.

Nyah Goss and Katie Murphy suffered a 21-8, 21-10 setback at the final flight.

Match 2: Wayne St. 3, Tusculum 2
The Wildcats edged out the Pioneers as TU finished pool play.

TU got its wins from the first and third flights.

Marsh and Smith tallied a 21-9, 22-20 win at No. 1, while Morgan Willis and Ryann Gallagher recorded their 21-10, 21-18 result at No. 3.

Mia Johnson and Kassidy Mercado suffered a 21-18, 21-15 loss at No. 2 as Oppenhuis and Tea dropped a 21-16, 22-20 decision at No. 4.

At the fifth flight, Goss and Murphy battled to a decisive third set, falling in overtime by scores of 13-21, 21-13, 14-16.

Pairs Challenge
Lindy Carter and Sofia Richmond represented Tusculum in the one-day Pairs Challenge. They were grouped in Pool H, with teams from Colorado Mesa, Palm Beach Atlantic, and Saint Leo.

Carter and Richmond started out against the pair from PBA, falling 21-9, 21-15.

They moved on to the consolation match against Saint Leo, who fell to CMU in the first match. The Pioneer pair dropped a 21-11, 21-17 showing to the Lions.