Beach Volleyball 3/7/2026 12:16:00 AM

EKU Downs Mercer, Splits Opening Day at Duuuval Duals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Eastern Kentucky University beach volleyball program split its first two games at the Duuuval Duals, defeating Mercer, 4-1, before falling to Jacksonville.

Molly Shomock and Riley Cutler went 2-0 as a pair on the day, improving to 8-2 on the season.

With the win over the Bears, the Colonels improve to 7-3 on the season, the second-best start in program history through 10 games.

GAME ONE: EKU 4, MERCER 1

Mercer grabbed an early lead in the fifth flight, going up 1-0.

EKU answered at No. 4, as freshmen Carlyn Mcallister and Sutton Sales dropped the opening set but rallied to win the next two, 21-17 and 15-7, tying the match at 1-1.

The Colonels took control from there.

Amanda Floystad and Kaiya Ward earned a three-set win in Flight 3, edging Mercer 24-22 in the first set before clinching it with a 15-10 victory in the third, giving EKU its first lead.

Gabriella Armitage and Elpida Pitsigkoni clinched the team win at the top flight, edging the Bears 24-22, 22-19 in a pair of close sets.

Shomock and Cutler capped the match with a three-set victory at the No. 2 flight, finishing with a 15-10 win in the third set.

GAME TWO: EKU 1, JACKSONVILLE 4

EKU dropped all but one set against the Jaguars, with Shomock and Cutler earning the Colonels' only point.

The duo clinched the point in straight sets.

They clutched up 24-22 in a back-and-forth first set, then pulled away for a 21-15 win in the second.

NEXT UP

The Duuuval Duals continue Saturday, with EKU facing Florida International at 8 a.m. and North Florida at noon.

Match Score: EKU 4, MERCER 1

Flight	EKU Pair	Set 1	Set 2	Set 3
1	Gabriella Armitage / Elpida Pitsigkoni	24-22	22-19
2	Molly Shomock / Riley Cutler	22-20	11-21	15-10
3	Amanda Floystad / Kaiya Ward	24-22	16-21	15-10
4	Carlyn Mcallister / Sutton Sales	14-21	21-17	15-7
5	Arilyn Lee / Zsa Zsa Ferguson	19-21	22-24

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

Match Score: EKU 1, JACKSONVILLE 4

Flight	EKU Pair	Set 1	Set 2	Set 3
1	Gabriella Armitage / Elpida Pitsigkoni	14-21	4-21
2	Molly Shomock / Riley Cutler	24-22	21-15
3	Amanda Floystad / Kaiya Ward	19-21	17-21
4	Carlyn Mcallister / Sutton Sales	18-21	22-24
5	Zsa Zsa Ferguson / Maddie Knaak	8-21	13-21

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

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Players Mentioned

#22 Gabriella Armitage: 5' 11"; Junior

#17 Riley Cutler: 5' 7"; Junior

#11 Amanda Floystad: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#7 Arilyn Lee: 5' 10"; Senior

#2 Elpida Pitsigkoni: 5' 10"; Junior

#5 Molly Shomock: 5' 10"; Senior

#12 Kaiya Ward: 5' 10"; Freshman

#8 Maddie Knaak: 5' 9"; Freshman

#14 Sutton Sales: 5' 8"; Freshman

#6 Carlyn Mcallister: 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#22 Gabriella Armitage
: 5' 11"; Junior

#17 Riley Cutler
: 5' 7"; Junior

#11 Amanda Floystad
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#7 Arilyn Lee
: 5' 10"; Senior

#2 Elpida Pitsigkoni
: 5' 10"; Junior

#5 Molly Shomock
: 5' 10"; Senior

#12 Kaiya Ward
: 5' 10"; Freshman

#8 Maddie Knaak
: 5' 9"; Freshman

#14 Sutton Sales
: 5' 8"; Freshman

#6 Carlyn Mcallister
: 5' 8"; Freshman