Greeneville, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs dropped a 5-0 match against top-seeded Carson-Newman Friday afternoon to open up the 2026 South Atlantic Conference beach volleyball tournament, then fell in a 3-2 heartbreaker against Catawba later in the day.

MATCH ONE | CARSON-NEWMAN 5 WINGATE 0 (Box Score)

- Amelia Talbott and London Moultrie won 21-11 in set two at three pairs
- The Eagles battled back with a 15-11 win in the third
- Michaela Benfield and Ragan Ball won set one 21-15 at five pairs
- Carson-Newman responded by winning 21-17 and 15-8 to take prevail

MATCH TWO | CATAWBA 3 WINGATE 2 (Box Score)

- Lilou Thieme and Kate Beezer rolled to a 21-5, 21-15 win at one pairs
- Lilly DeLamielleure and Ashlyn Buck won at four when their opponents retired
- Benfield and Ball lost a tight 13-21, 21-16, 16-18 match at five pairs
- Ella Harm and Naomi Hilliard also dropped a hard-fought 20-22, 17-21 match at number two
- Talbott and Moultrie fell 16-21, 19-21 at number three