CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's beach volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on its opening day of the Scenic City Showdown, falling 3-2 to Tusculum and 5-0 to host Chattanooga, Friday, at the UTC Sports Complex.

Austin Peay (7-11) claimed the first two points in the day's opening event against Tusculum, with Elizabeth Wheat and Tristin Smith earning a 22-20 win on court No. 5, and Mikayla Powell and Maggie Duyos winning, 21-18, 21-19 from the No. 4 position. 

The Pioneers came back to clinch the win, following victories from court No. 3 and No. 2, before securing the win with a three-set win from the No. 1 position.

Wheat and Smith battled in the fifth position against the Mocs, splitting a pair of 21-18 sets across the first two frames, but fell in the deciding set, 15-13.  

APSU fell in straight sets across the top four courts, resulting in the UTC win. 

The Govs return to the sand tomorrow for matches against Carson-Newman at 9 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. finale against Chattanooga.

Results vs. Tusculum (3-2, TU)

1. Morgan Browne/Olivia Browne (TUS) def. Kelsey Mead/Aurora Bibolotti (APSU) 9-21, 21-17, 19-17 
2. Riley Rushing/Hannah Marsh (TUS) def. Riley Marshall/Anna Rita (APSU) 21-16, 17-21, 16-14 
3. Brynn Smith/Kyla Oppenhuis (TUS) def. Jillian Stein/Jamie Seward (APSU) 19-21, 21-15, 15-10 
4. Mikayla Powell/Maggie Duyos (APSU) def. Charlyn Miller/Katie McLamb (TUS) 20-22, 22-20, 15-10 
5. Elizabeth Wheat/Tristin Smith (APSU) def. Morgan Willis/Katie Murphy (TUS) 22-20, 21-14 

Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1*

Results vs. Chattanooga (5-0, UTC)

1. Neva Clark/Corina Vale (UTC) def. Kelsey Mead/Aurora Bibolotti (APSU) 21-13, 21-10 
2. Gylian Finch/McKenna Faychak (UTC) def. Riley Marshall/Anna Rita (APSU) 21-8, 21-13 
3. Madde Lecik/Joy Courtright (UTC) def. Mikayla Powell/Maggie Duyos (APSU) 21-11, 21-17 
4. Paige Gallentine/Kaye Gresham (UTC) def. Jillian Stein/Jamie Seward (APSU) 21-18, 21-19 
5. Morgan Romano/Julia Lawrence (UTC) def. Elizabeth Wheat/Tristin Smith (APSU) 21-18, 18-21, 15-13 

Order of finish: 4, 5, 1*, 3, 2