The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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Sand Volleyball Concludes Play At Fiesta on Siesta
4/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
SIESTA KEY, Fla. -- The UAB sand volleyball team competed in the Siesta on Fiesta Pairs Tournament Saturday and Sunday. The Blazers had six different pairs participate.
The tournament included bracket play, a team cup and pool play over the two days. UAB (7-8) had two pairs make the Gold Division bracket, one in the Silver Division and two compete in the Copper Bracket for the Team Cup. 
Seniors Rachel Fairbanks and Sara Rishell tied for third in the Gold Division to be the top finishers in the bracket play. The duo had a first round bye, then topped Georgia State's Olivova and Button in three sets. They dropped the first set, 16-21, but rebounded with 21-19, 15-12 wins to advance.
The win setup a matchup with Florida State's Nyquist and Pavels. It was another three-set match as Fairbanks and Rishell won the first set, 21-19, but eventually fell to the Gold Division Champions, 21-16, 15-5.
Seniors Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas won their first match, 15-21, 21-18, 15-10, to advance to the second round in the Gold Division. The duo was knocked out by Stetson's Bassett and Melville, 21-17, 21-16.
In the Silver Division, seniors Leslie Ekpe and Ally Slaughter fell in the first round to FSU's Sanchez and Wickstrom, 21-18, 21-19.
Senior Becca Howard and freshman Avei Logoleo continued to play well as they finished 2-1 in match play.
The duo then competed in the Copper Bracket of the Fiesta Team Cup along with freshmen Anna-Mae Messisco and Gabbi Moreno and sophomore Amber Treace and freshman Haley Jared. The Team Cup consisted of one game, played to 25.
Howard and Logoleo defeated St. Catherine College's pair, 25-8. Messisco and Moreno topped Principia College's Roundtree and Sprague, 25-18, while Treace and Jared fell to Barnett and McMahon of Jacksonville, 25-17.
In the semifinals, Howard and Logoleo knocked out Barnett and McMahon, 25-19, and Messisco and Moreno defeated Redner and Trimble of Eckerd College, 28-26, to set up an all-UAB final. 
Howard and Logoleo took the win, 25-22, to win the Copper Bracket. 
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For sand volleyball news, follow @UABSandVBall.
