EMERSON, Ga. – The UAB beach volleyball team's 2018 season came to an end on Saturday at the CCSA Tournament by sustaining losses to No. 19 Tulane and No. 10 FIU in the second day of action at Rally Volleyball.
 
UAB opened the day with a narrow 4-1 defeated to the Green Wave, followed by a 5-0 loss to the tenth-ranked Panthers.
 
The Blazers competed very well in the opening match against Tulane and were victorious on court four, but the Green Wave came out winners on all other courts. Tressa Buckland and Kaylee McClure notched the lone UAB win in straight sets over Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra 23-21, 21-17.
 
The other matches were straight set victories but only a few points difference deciding the scores, including court one in which Kenley Adams and Devon May came up short 24-22, 21-18.
 
In the second match, Buckland and McClure once again got off to a fast start by winning the first set 21-17 on court four, but FIU took the second 21-13 and also won the third in a back-and-forth battle, 19-17.
 
The Blazers finished the 2018 season at 8-15 overall, but had many program milestones under first year head coach Kyra Iannone, including beating No. 8 South Carolina for UAB's first-ever win over a nationally-ranked opponent.
 
"I am proud of how the girls bought into the culture this season and the desire to be great they demonstrated," Iannone said. "Our four seniors made such an impact on this team and they will truly be missed. We accomplished so much in 2018 and I'm excited for the future."  
 
No. 19 TULANE 4, UAB 1
 
Court 1: Kaylie McHugh/Madeline Mertz (TLN) def. Devon May/Kenley Adams (UAB) 24-22, 21-18
Court 2: Tarin Mergener/Lan Nguyen (TLN) def. Avei Logoleo/Erin Bognar (UAB) 21-17, 21-19
Court 3: Lauren Orlich/Anna Chin (TLN) def. Gabbi Moreno/Emily Martinez (UAB) 21-15, 21-15
Court 4: Kaylee McClure/Tressa Buckland (UAB) def. Rio Frohoff/Gabriella Becerra (TLN) 23-21, 21-17
Court 5: Ashley Delgado/Addison Hermstad (TLN) def. SalliAnne Napolitano/Annie Pringle (UAB) 21-15, 22-20
 
No. 10 FIU 5, UAB 0
 
Court 1: Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Devon May/Kenley Adams (UAB) 21-14, 21-15?
Court 2: Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Avei Logoleo/Erin Bognar (UAB) 21-13, 21-15?
Court 3: Katie Friesen/Dorina Klinger (FIU) def. Gabbi Moreno/Emily Martinez (UAB) 21-13, 21-14?
Court 4: Mariana Dal Pozzo/Taija Thomas (FIU) def. Kaylee McClure/Tressa Buckland (UAB) 17-21, 21-13, 19-17
Court 5: Natalia Giron/Estefanie Bethancour (FIU) def. SalliAnne Napolitano/Annie Pringle (UAB) 21-6, 21-12