Loyola beach volleyball advances to Sun Conference semifinals

GULF SHORES, Ala. – In its first season of official competition, the Loyola University New Orleans beach volleyball team has reached the semifinals of The Sun Conference Championship tournament. 

 

It was a long day of competition in Gulf Shores, starting with a 10 a.m. matchup with No. 3 seed Mobile, which the No. 6 seeded Pack won 3-2. Loyola almost advanced in the second match of the day against No. 2 seed Ave Maria, where they had match point but lost 3-2. Finally, Loyola faced No. 4 seed William Carey for the fourth time this season, eliminating the Crusaders with a 3-1 win. 

 

The journey continues for the Wolf Pack (10-15) on Saturday, when the sixth-seeded Loyola takes on the top seed, Webber International, in a match scheduled for 9 a.m. The Pack previously battled Webber, the No. 6-ranked team in the NAIA, a week ago on March 31, with Loyola falling 3-2. 

 

Loyola met Mobile for the fourth time this year in Friday's opener, with the Rams taking two of the previous three matchups. Only the flight 4 and 5 matches finished in two sets, with the others all going to a deciding third. Gabby Masiello and Elizabeth Prado won at flight 4, and Preslie Boswell and Juliet Petruzelli won their match at flight 2. With things tied up at 2-2, the match came down to flight 1, where Madeline Corrall and Kala Emanuelli prevailed in a 16-14 third set. 

 

In the second match, Corrall and Emanuelli won again, this time in straight sets, and Brittany Cooper and Samantha Ingram won in three. Flights 4 and 5 both went the distance this time, and Loyola was close to taking both matches but Ave Maria came out on top. 

 

It was an uphill battle in the match against the Crusaders. Both teams were on their third match of the day, and William Carey took the first set on four of the five courts. Loyola battled back, however, to force third sets on three of those. Masiello and Prado had another straight-sets victory at flight 4. Kiarelis Martinez and Emily Sheperis then got their first win of the day at flight 5 to put the Pack up 2-1. The Wolf Pack were then able to close out the match with a huge result from Cooper and Ingram, their team-high 14th win of the season, to push the team through to the semis. 

You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.

 

Match One

 

Loyola – 3

Mobile – 2

 

1. Madeline Corrall/Kala Emanuelli (LOYNO) def. Aspen Adams/Layton Adams (UM) 19-21, 23-21, 16-14

2. Preslie Boswell/Juliet Petruzelli (LOYNO) def. Brinkley Hearn/Abbey Andrews (UM) 18-21, 19-21, 15-10

3. Haley Jones/Dani Pote (UM) def. Brittany Cooper/Samantha Ingram (LOYNO) 24-22, 10-21, 15-12

4. Gabby Masiello/Elizabeth Prado (LOYNO) def. Tatum Beech/Jordan Wood (UM) 21-15, 21-19

5. Veronica/Makovey/Emma Todd (UM) def. Kiarelis Martinez/Emily Sheperis (LOYNO) 21-11, 21-18

Match Two

 

Loyola – 2

Ave Maria – 3

 

1. Madeline Corrall/Kala Emanuelli (LOYNO) def. Lily Witkoski/Lily Grasso (AMU) 21-17, 21-18

2. Katie Grose/Reena Thomas (AMU) def. Preslie Boswell/Juliet Petruzelli (LOYNO) 21-17, 21-10

3. Brittany Cooper/Samantha Ingram (LOYNO)  def. Miah Pena/Zelie Kesssler (AMU) 19-21, 21-14, 15-11

4. Hannah Jones/Alayna Metherd (AMU) def. Gabby Masiello/Elizabeth Prado (LOYNO) 18-21, 21-18, 15-12

5. Victoria Schein/Abby Grose MU) def. Kiarelis Martinez/Emily Sheperis (LOYNO) 21-15, 14-21, 16-14

Match Three

 

Loyola – 3

William Carey – 1

 

1. Madeline Corrall/Kala Emanuelli (LOYNO) vs Kacey Lear/Rachel Hartmann (WCU), 19-21, 21-19, unfinished

2. Carly Merry/Reagan Huff (WCU) def. Preslie Boswell/Juliet Petruzelli (LOYNO) 21-14, 21-16

3. Brittany Cooper/Samantha Ingram (LOYNO) def. Mary Katherine Ashburn/Elaina Anderson (WCU) 10-21, 21-15, 15-12

4. Gabby Masiello/Elizabeth Prado (LOYNO) def. Jacey Garriga/Lainey Brumfield (WCU) 21-14, 21-18

5. Kiarelis Martinez/Emily Sheperis (LOYNO) def. Amy Wright/Avery Durdin (WCU) 13-21, 21-8, 15-6