RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's beach volleyball team heads back on the road this week for the ULM Beach Invitational hosted by Louisiana-Monroe with two matches on Friday and two on Saturday.
On Friday the Colonels (8-7) will take on Hendrix at 1:30 p.m. and Central Arkansas at 5:15 p.m. before facing ULM and Tarleton State on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. (All times Eastern)
EKU enters the tournament after going 2-1 last week at the Stacheville Beach Bash against other ASUN teams.
The Colonels opened last weekend with a 4-1 loss to North Alabama, but responded with two, 3-2 wins against Central Arkansas and Austin Peay.
The clinching point in both matches came from the pair of
Madalyn Richardson and
Riley Cutler. In their wins, the fought back after dropping the first set to win the next two as Richardson finished them off with short, cross-court cut shots.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Division III Hendrix comes into the tournament, 12-10 for the season after a 2-2 performance last weekend at the Berry D-III Beach Bash.
In 2024 the Warriors have faced four Division I opponents in Missouri St., UT Martin, Lindenwood, and Nicholls St. losing all four.
Friday will mark the first time the Warriors and Colonels have ever met on the sand.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Friday will be the second meeting between the Colonels and UCA in as many weeks, with EKU scraping a 3-2 decision last week over the Bears.
The two team's split the No. 4 and 5 matches, with EKU's
Rachel Mueller and
EK Lonergan earning a team point with a 21-18, 21-18 win at the four spot.
Walker and Mitchell gave EKU a, 2-1 lead after their win at the No. 1 slot, but UCA struck back with a three-set win at No. 2 bringing it all down to the No. 3 match.
After trading the first two sets, 21-17, 17-21, Cutler and Richardson fell behind early to the Bears, trailing 10-5 in the final set of the dual.
The EKU duo however, were able to capitalize an crucial miss hits by UCA while making stellar defensive plays to come back and take the match.
SCOUTING THE WARHAWKS
ULM returns home after going 1-3 last weekend at the Sun Belt Mid-Year Tournament, and with a 7-9 record overall on the season.
The Warhawks top pair off Kaitlyn Beck and Claire Williamson enters the tournament with a 10-5 record in 2024 mainly at the No. 2 and 3 slots having won their last five matches together.
The Colonels and Warhawks have met only one time previously, with ULM winning, 5-0 in Feb. of 2020.
SCOUTING THE TEXANS
2024 marks the inaugural season for TSU beach volleyball having gone 1-5 so far this season.
Last time out, the Texans dropped both ends of a home doubleheader to Division II Texas A&M-Kingsville, 4-1, 4-1.
Their lone win of the season came on Feb. 24 against Nicholls State, winning 4-1.
