GULF SHORES, Ala. --- The Tusculum University women's beach volleyball team fell to both Palm Beach Atlantic and Vanguard on Friday (Apr. 17) in pool play. Meanwhile, Ryann Gallagher and Jordyn Kwalwasser won their Pairs Challenge pool with a 2-0 day.

Tusculum (12-21) plays just one match on Saturday (Apr. 18) due to just four teams in Pool D. The Pioneers will battle the No. 5 seeded Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas at 10:05 a.m. (EDT). Sunday's brackets are determined after all pool play is completed.

Match 1: No. 4 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, No. 13 Tusculum 0
The Sailfish swept the Pioneers with three straight-set victories in the day's opener.

The top flight of Hannah Marsh and Sofia Vega Barrantes fell 21-17, 21-12, while the 2's of Brynn Smith and Sylvia Liszewski dropped their match by identical 21-18, 21-18 results.

Cooper George and Dasha Nikolaeva were also victims to PBA with a 21-14, 21-16 loss at No. 4. 

Match 2: No. 12 Vanguard 3, No. 13 Tusculum 0
The same three Pioneers pairs fell to the Lions in the second match of the day.

At the top flight, Vega Barrantes and Marsh dropped a 22-20, 21-14 decision, while Smith and Liszewski tallied a mirrored score at No. 2, 21-14, 22-20.

George and Nikolaeva fell in a tight contest at No. 4 by scores of 21-16, 21-18.

Pairs Challenge
Ryann Gallagher and Jordyn Kwalwasser represented Tusculum in the Pairs Challenge in Pool D. 

The duo defeated their University of Mobile opposites by a 21-19, 21-16 margin to advance to the poll championship match.

In the other match, PBA defeated Texas A&M-Texarkana to set up a title match with the Pioneers. 

The Pioneer pair down the Florida pairing by identical 21-17, 21-17 scores to win the Pairs Challenge for Pool D.