Sandy Hawks miss ranked opponents twice

COLOMBIA, South Carolina – UNCW fell short twice Saturday against a pair of ranked opponents to close out Carolina Challenge host South Carolina.

UNCW saw their record slip to 17-7 after a 1-3 weekend while 19th-ranked Stetson improved to 12-12 and 19th-ranked South Carolina moved to 13-8 .

Against Stetson, UNCW took the Hatters to three sets in fourth and fifth pairing, but Stetson was able to win both matches. Brianna Haggerty and Kaley McLaughlin lost 15-13 in the fourth pairing while Jadyn Barry and Mady’s people fell, 15-12.

On Friday, Haggerty became UNCW’s single-season wins leader with 16 when she teamed with Kaley McLaughlin on board UAB, 2-1, to fourth pair.

The Hatters managed to clinch the duel with a 21-16, 21-11 win in the third pairing.

Folks and Barry drew the Seahawks even with South Carolina winning fifth pair, 21-16 and 21-18, but the Gamecocks swept the top three pair in straight sets.

The Seahawks are making a short trip to Conway, SC next weekend for another tournament called the Carolina Challenge, this time hosted by Coastal Carolina. UNCW opens its tournament with an 8 a.m. rematch against South Carolina.

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