SARASOTA, Fla. - NCF Beach Volleyball fell one set short of a Sun Conference Beach Tournament Title at Banyan Beach over the weekend.
After winning its first three contests Friday and Saturday, NCF was defeated by Ave Maria 3-2 in the Finals as it finished as tournament runner-ups.
Tournament Opener Recap
New College earned a 3-0 victory over No. 8 seeded Truett McConnell in its tournament opener Friday .
Kayla Gentry and
Jayden Ponsford secured a straight-set win at No. 2, defeating Belle Lamonica and Lola Nieto 21-6, 21-15.
Alba Romanos Gracia and
Jayleen Santiago earned a straight-set win at No. 4, defeating Emily Reynolds and Riley Strickland 21-14, 21-12.
Soraya Nacero and
Camilla Vaerini clinched the victory at No. 3 with a 21-9, 21-9 victory over Camille Godfrey and Caroline Yeager.
Matches at No. 1 and No. 5 went unfinished after NCF's victory at the No. 3 spot.
Winners Bracket Game Recap
New College earned a 3-2 victory over No. 5 seeded St. Thomas to punch its ticket to Saturday's semifinals.
Gentry and Ponsford secured a straight-set win at No. 2, defeating Maria Ramos and Maite Solabarrieta 21-16, 21-12.
Vaerini and Nacero added another point at No. 3 with a 21-12, 21-7 victory over Margaret Sierra and Isabella Tavarez.
St. Thomas picked up points at No. 1 and No. 4, leaving the No. 5's match to determine the victor.
The Mighty Banyans would prevail as
Mariana Saba and
Amanda Pizzol earned a three-set win at No. 5, defeating Alexa Moore and Theynara De Jesus 21-14, 16-21, 15-10 to clinch the match.
Semifinals Recap
NCF defeated Webber 3-0 in Saturday's semifinals to punch its ticket ot the championship.
Casey and Fenstermaker secured a straight-set win at No. 1, defeating Kaylee Hunt and Abigail Baxter 21-13, 21-16.
Gentry and Ponsford added another point at No. 2 with a 21-10, 21-6 victory over Addison Flom and Samantha Gomez.
Nacero and Vaerini earned a straight-set win at No. 3, defeating Vivianne Cancio and Bryanna Marks-Craig 22-20, 21-12.
Matches at No. 4 and No. 5 were unfinished.
Championship Recap
NCF fell 3-2 in heartbreaking fashion in the title match to No. 2 seeded Ave Maria
Casey and Fenstermaker earned a 21-14, 21-12 win at the No. 1 position over Adriana Bravo and Mara Delyon. Gentry and Ponsford won a three-set match at No. 2 to Ryan Getz and Ines Lopes, 22-20, 21-18, 15-12.
Romanos Gracia and Santiago fell in straight sets at No. 4 to Beatriz Rissi and Maria Teixeira, while Pizzol and Saba were defeated in straight sets at No. 5 by Maylis DeTar and Abbey Grose.
The dual came down to the No. 3 position, where Nacero and Vaerini were defeated in three sets by Greta Heiney and Elle Malczewski, 21-16, 15-21, 15-12, to give Ave Maria the title.
Up Next: NCF will compete for an NAIA Championship in Mesa, Arizona later this month.
