As all of our tournament is taken down around me, if I don't sign off now, I'm going to get packed in a truck!
Congratulations to all of the winners- and great work by Dave Carstensen and Tom Collett to put this all together. The sponsors were great, the teams were fantastic and the crowd was super!!!
Thanks to all who joined us on Siesta Key for Fiesta on Siesta 2010. Look for some photos and videos posted up on the website in the next few days!!
We'll look forward to seeing you soon!
Phil Bush
Fiesta on Siesta Blogger at Large!!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
UCF Nips USF in the Collegiate Coaches Cup!
5 points is all the seperated our first and seond place teams- and the Golden Knights of UCF took the Cup by 5 points over USF! It was THAT close as the Collegiate Cup wrapped up. UCF received their Cup from Co-Director Tom Collett. A job well done ladies. Also, congratulations to UCF Assistant Coach Eric Peterson and USF Head Coach Claire Lessinger in leading their teams to Great Finishes!
Bronze Champions - Collegiate Division
St. Pete College's Kristina Little and Alina Maur defeated Savannah College's Art and Design's Cari Taylor and Lauren Reiners (Sorry if the spelling is off ladies!!)
Silver Championship!
University of North Florida's Dagnija Medina and Jessica Catelano took the Silver Division over SCAD's Courtney Shelton and Erin Niece. We were RIGHT up against darkness for our Championship matches!! Great job by Dave Carstensen and Tom Collett to pull all of this off!
Gold Champions in Collegiate Division
Wow- what a Final! State College (formerly Manatee Community College) defended the "Home Beach!" Aurora Newgard and Emily Strack took down Miami's Lane Carico and Alicia McGee 15-11 to win the Championship. This team had great Serving and super defense on the way to the tournament Victory!!
State College in the Gold Final
State College of Florida (Formerly Manatee Community College) has put a team into the finals! Aurora Newgard and Emily Strack beat one Miami Hurricane team to get there- they may have to beat another team to win it all. Another Semifinal is going on right now between USF and Miami.
Semi Finals in all 4 Divisions
We're into semi finals in all four Divisions- Gold, Silver, Bronze and Consolation. 8 Matches going on- and the tension is building. Everyone is having a GREAT time- but they all WANT TO WIN!!
The ground Crew is busy!
The Ground Crew has done a great job today and they are trying to take some things down while we still have some light!
Its been an incredible Day!!
Already crowned our champions in the Seniors and SEC Divisions- we started 9 hours ago and we are winding our way to the Gold Finals of the Collegiate Division.
Hurricane Warning - Becker and Gallagher Move into Semis!!
University of Miami's Ali Becker and Katie Gallagher have moved into the Semifinals against State College of Florida! The Gold Finals are approaching!!
Collegiate Beach Championship - Playoffs are Intense!
We're a little time constrained, so the Playoffs are 1 game to 15 - Sudden Death- it leads to to VERY intense competition!!
LSU Takes the Coaches Cup
The LSU Tigers took the 3rd annual SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Challenge, winning the Team Competition. The Florida Gators came in 2nd, its been 3 years and a different Champion each year has been crowned! Year one it was Georgia- last year South Carolina and this year the LSU Tigers. A great team effort for all of the LSU Players: Angela Bensend/Michelle Williams, Brittney Johnson/Lauren Waclawcyk, Tania Schatow/Megan Mannari, and Madi Jones/Sam Delahoussee. Congratulations also to LSU Assistant Coach Scott Loeswick!
Murphy and Jaeckel - down 23-18 - WIN 27-25
In Dramatic Fashion, Florida's Kristy Jaeckel and Kelly Murphy needed extra time to win the 3rd SEC Coaches Beach Challenge, defeating their Florida Teammates Callie Rivers and Lauren Bledsoe in an Intense Final. Bledsoe and Rivers were up 23-18 and most folks (me included!) were pretty confident that it was over. Jaeckel went back and served some tough balls- Bledsoe and Rivers made a few very small errors- and next thing you know we were tied at 23, 24, and 25. A couple of plays at the net and Jaeckel and Murphy came all the way back and won 27-25! A great match and fitting final!!
Florida nad Florida Final!
Callie Rivers and Lauren Bledsoe moved into the Final with a 25-18 victory over Kayla Scmidt and Callie Johnson of Alabama. The SEC part of our tourney is winding down, but the Collegiate Coaches part of the the tourney is getting cranked up!
Champions in SEC Bronze!
Georgia's Nicole Choi and Kathleen Luft took the Bronze Division of the SEC Coaches Challenge.
Champions in SEC Silver!!
Meghan Laughlin and Taylor Bruns defeated Florida's Cassandra Anderson and Erin Fleming to win the Silver Division of the SEC Coaches Challenge!
Murphy and Jaeckel make the Final
Florida's Kelly Murphy and Kristy Jaeckel moved into the final with a 25-21 victory over Angela Bensend and Michelle Williams. Florida trying to put 2 in the finals- Bledsoe and Rivers lead their semi 18-14.
Upset Complete - Tide Rolls past Lady Vols
Kayla Schmidt and Callie Johnson finished the upset they started, defeating defending Champ Nikki Fowler and Kayla Jeter 25-20 to move into the Semis against Callie Rivers and Lauren Bledsoe. Both Semis will be going on side by side. 2 sets of Gators, LSU and Bama make up the semifinalists!
Gold Semi - LSU and Florida
UF's Murphy/Jaeckel against LSU's Angela Bensend and Michelle Williams - this should be another great match - 4 very Elite level athletes all fighting for a spot in the Finals!!
Potential Upset brewing on center court
Alabama's Kayla Schmidt and Callie Johnson leading Tennessee's Jeter and Fowler. Unforced errors by the Lady Vols are making the difference here!
NOW The sun comes out
At the end of the day, when we are all worn down- the Sun comes out to finish boiling us!
Nikki Fowler and Kayla Jeter ready to go on Center Court
Defending Champion Nikki Fowler with new Partner Kayla Jeter have not missed a beat. The Lady Vols look very storng and confident as they crank up their Quarterfinal Match.
Florida's Murphy an d Jaeckel squeak int o the Gold Semis...
with a 26-24 win over LSU's Brittney Johnson/Lauren Waclawcyk- GREAT Match- onto the semis go the Florida pair!
Collegiate Beach Championship - Pool Play winding down
Some great play is winding down - some of these were 6 teams pools that took a while to finish up- so we will be hear for a while detemining our champion- a lot of great teams have made their way here today!
SEC Quarterfinal Action
Cranking up another really good Quarterfinal Match in the SEC- Georgia's Valentina Gonzalez and Erika Clark against Florida's Lauren Bledsoe and Callie Rivers.
Top Seeds in SEC Tourney
Top 4 Seeds in SEC Tourney are Florida's Kristy Jaeckel/Kelly Murphy, Georgia's Erika Clark/Valentina Gonzalez, Tennessee's Nikki Fowler and Kayla Jeter, and LSU's Angela Bensend/Michelle Williams. But all 12 teams in the Gold Bracket have a legit shot to win this tourney. Also, Every Finish Counts- to the overall standing and the Coaches Cup. Can LSU, Tennessee, or Florida win the Cup?
SEC Playoffs are moving along
Florida's Callie Rivers and Lauren Bledsoe knocked off South Carolina's Hannah Lawing and Jordan Bradosky in the Gold Bracket. About to see a great match on Center Court - Florida's Kelly Murphy and Kristy Jaeckel against LSU's Lauren Waclawcyk and Brittney Johnson. Great match- great athletes - should be fun to see!!
The Bulls Take the Championship
Marcella Gurgel and Cynthia Danthon from USF outlasted SCAD's Zita Friedenfelde and Heather Friend 25-23 to take the Senior Championship. I talked to them after the match with their USF Teammates in the background- they are excited to be representing USF in the CBS Sports Alt Games in Santa Barbara!! The Ladies from SCAD played very well- coming back from 5 down to tie the score at 20-20. They also worked very hard on defense and almost pulled out. A great match for the first of our 3 Championships!