Bears
UCA earns win, takes loss on first day of tournament
UCA beach volleyball splits opening day with win over UMHB before falling to UT Martin in Conway tournament play.
Central Arkansas began its Spring Break Invitational with a split Friday, earning a win in the morning before dropping the second match later in the day.
UCA opened with a 4-1 victory over Mary Hardin-Baylor, showing steady play across its lineup. The Bears then fell 4-1 to UT Martin in the afternoon, ending day one with a 1-1 record at the Beach Bear Sand Courts.
The first dual featured strong performances on multiple courts. UCA secured four points to take control early and keep momentum throughout the match.
Anna Linskey and Natalie Blum delivered a key win at the top position. The duo went three sets, winning 21-18, 24-26, 15-7 to help the Bears build an early lead.
Madelyn White and Chandler Lawrence followed with a straight-set victory on Court 2. Ella Layzell and Brooke Sharp added another point with a two-set win on Court 3.
After Mary Hardin-Baylor claimed its only point, UCA closed out the dual on Court 5. Ella Weilert and Reegan Siewert sealed the team win with a 21-15, 21-15 result.
The Bears also picked up an exhibition victory as Emmie Tidwell and Callie Mullins won in straight sets to finish the opening match.
Anna Linskey | Ted McClenning-allBEARS+ Images
UCA drops second match of day
The afternoon contest proved more difficult as UT Martin controlled the top courts and built a quick lead.
The Skyhawks won the first three courts in straight sets, putting UCA in a position it couldn’t recover from.
Still, the Bears avoided a shutout with a comeback effort on Court 4. Ella Weilert and Allison Heck dropped the opening set before rallying for a 14-21, 21-19, 15-10 win.
UT Martin secured the overall dual on Court 5, finishing the match before the final exhibition was completed.
Tidwell and Mullins again closed strong in exhibition play, earning another straight-set win to cap the day.
Bears look ahead to final day
UCA returns to action Saturday to wrap up the Spring Break Invitational with additional matches scheduled at home.
The Bears will also recognize seniors during the final day, marking an important moment for the program.
With a win and a loss to open the event, UCA showed balance across its lineup and will look to build consistency moving forward.
