SPRINGFIELD Mo. - The Eastern Kentucky University beach volleyball team closed out the Beach Bears Bash in dominant fashion, sweeping Southwest Baptist, 5-0, before edging out Central Arkansas, 3-2, to wrap up the weekend.
 
The Colonels finish out the weekend 2-2, improving to 6-2 on the season.
 
GAME ONE: EKU 5, SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 0
 
The Colonels opened day two of the Beach Bears Bash with a commanding 5-0 sweep over Southwest Baptist, winning every flight in straight sets.
 
The matchup carried extra meaning, as EKU squared off against former Colonel great Paityn Walker, current head coach at Southwest Baptist.
 
Walker holds the program record for most wins in EKU beach volleyball history after graduating last season.
 
At the top flight, Elpida Pitsigkoni and Gabriella Armitage rolled to a 21-13, 21-8 victory to give EKU early momentum.
 
Molly Shomock and Riley Cutler followed with a dominant 21-11, 21-7 win at No. 2.
 
Amanda Floystad and Kaiya Ward added a 21-11, 21-16 triumph in the third flight.
 
Carlyn Mcallister and Sutton Sales secured the fourth flight, 21-17, 21-15, improving to 7-0 on the season as a pair.
 
Freshman Lily Kerbl made her collegiate debut, pairing with Arilyn Lee at the No. 5 flight. The duo capped the sweep with a commanding 21-8, 21-7 victory to seal the 5-0 win for the Colonels.
 
GAME TWO: EKU 3, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 0
 
The Colonels closed out the Beach Bears Bash with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Central Arkansas, clinching the dual in dramatic fashion.
 
After Central Arkansas took the opening point, EKU answered at the No. 2 flight. Shomock and Cutler delivered a straight-set win, 21-19, 21-12, to even the match.
 
Floystad and Ward followed with another straight-set victory at No. 3, edging their opponents 21-19, 21-18 to give the Colonels a 2-1 advantage.
 
With the duel tied at 2-2, all eyes turned to the top flight.

Pitsigkoni and Armitage dropped a tight opening set but responded with poise, taking the second 21-17 to force a decisive third.
 
In a back-and-forth final set, the duo held steady down the stretch to claim a 19-17 win, clinching the 3-2 team victory for the Colonels.
 
NEXT UP
 
EKU heads to the sunshine state to compete in the Duuuval Duals from Mar. 6-7. Competing in four matches against Mercer, Jacksonville, Florida International, and North Florida.
 
Match Score: EKU 5, Southwest Baptist 0
 

Flight	EKU Pair	Set 1	Set 2	Set 3
1	Elpida Pitsigkoni / Gabriella Armitage	21-13	21-8
2	Molly Shomock / Riley Culter	21-11	21-7
3	Amanda Floystad / Kaiya Ward	21-11	21-16
4	Carlyn Mcallister / Sutton Sales	21-17	21-15
5	Lily Kerbl / Arilyn Lee	21-8	21-7

 
 
Match Score: EKU 3, Central Arkansas 2

Flight	EKU Pair	Set 1	Set 2	Set 3
1	Elpida Pitsigkoni / Gabriella Armitage	19-21	21-17	19-17
2	Molly Shomock / Riley Culter	21-19	21-12
3	Amanda Floystad / Kaiya Ward	21-19	21-18
4	Carlyn Mcallister / Sutton Sales	17-21	12-21
5	Lily Kerbl / Arilyn Lee	15-21	21-17	12-15

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 1