ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 10, 2019) – The Webber International University women's beach volleyball team fell in three matches against NCAA Division-II teams on Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, at the Eckerd College Battle on the Bay tournament at the North Shore Courts in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"We faced some tough competition this weekend, but our team is learning and growing every time we step on the court," stated Head Beach Volleyball Coach Jessica Gehrke-Hauptmann. "I'm really happy with our team's effort and determination as we pushed a lot of matches to three sets. We will continue to work on pushing to the finish."
 
Match 1 (Webber 0, University of Tampa 5):
 

• Hannah Tannone and Salla Rautiainen only fell by two points in the second set in the No. 1 spot, falling 21-14, 21-19 against Julia Oswald and Rachel Rosequist.
• Mekenzie Breuklander and Madelyn Glouner fell 21-12, 21-14 against Lexi Thompson and Valerie Rosequist in the No. 2 position.
• Like Tannone and Rautiainen, Kobi Allston and Luiza Oliveira only fell by two in the second set, falling 21-14, 22-20 against Melissa Elias and Selina Pfuner in the No. 4 spot.

 
Match 2 (Webber 1, Saint Leo University 4):
 

• Hannah Tannone and Salla Rautiainen earned the only win on the weekend for the Warriors, taking down former Warrior Amber Lake and Nina Vattovaz in three sets in the No. 1 spot, 21-16, 19-21, 15-5.
• Madelyn Glouner and Mekenzie Breuklander fell 21-13, 21-18 against Brooke Turner and Beka Wachob in the No. 2 spot.
• Jessica Terry and Julia Ferraro won the first set before falling in the No. 3 spot, dropping it 19-21, 21-14, 15-8.
• Kobi Allston and Luiza Oliveira fell in three sets in the No. 4 spot, falling 26-24, 15-21, 15-7.
• Molly Fusarelli and Teryn Mills also fell in three sets, dropping it 21-18, 17-21, 15-8 in the five hole.

 
Match 3 (Webber 0, Eckerd College 5):
 

• Hannah Tannone and Salla Rautiainen fell in three sets in the No. 1 spot, dropping it 21-15, 12-21, 15-8 against Stephanie Bogda and Rebekah Machovec.
• Madelyn Glouner and Mekenzie Breuklander fell 21-15, 21-18 against Arielle Erillo and Abbie O'Ferrell in the No. 2 spot.
• Jessica Terry and Julia Ferraro fell in two very close sets in the No. 3 spot, dropping it 22-20, 22-20 against Sydeny Case and Margot Balliet.
• Kobi Allston and Luiza Oliveira lost 21-16, 21-13 in the No. 4 position against Fernanda Reis and Sam Crankshaw.

 
Next Up:  Webber returns home for another Sun Conference matchup against rival Warner University at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19, followed by a nonconference match against NCAA Division-III Stevenson University at 1 p.m. on that same Tuesday. The Warriors fell to the Royals by a score of 3-2 during the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season in late February; and last year in 2018, it was Stevenson who the Warriors defeated 4-1 in the championship match to win their second straight Small College Beach National Championship.