Beach Volleyball: Central Opens Inaugural Beach Volleyball Season at NJCAA Beach Pairs Exhibition

The Central Community College beach volleyball team officially opened its inaugural season by competing in the inaugural NJCAA Beach Pairs Exhibition held alongside the NJCAA Championships in Huntsville, Alabama.

Central was represented by two pairs at the event. The No. 1 pair featured Kali Morinelli and Meah Sackett, while Rae Goeden and Chloe Henn competed as the No. 2 pair. Mallory Dressen also traveled with the team as an alternate.

Morinelli and Sackett finished the weekend with a 2-2 record. On Saturday, they opened play with a loss to Wake Tech (13-21, 10-21) before bouncing back with a hard-fought three-set victory over Coastal Alabama's No. 1 pair, 21-18, 23-25, 15-7. On Sunday, the duo fell to McCook's No. 1 pair (14-21, 18-21) before closing the tournament with a straight-set win over McCook's No. 2 pair, 21-18, 22-20.

Goeden and Henn posted a 2-3 record over the two-day event. Saturday featured losses to Weatherford (9-21, 10-21) and Mesa (13-21, 12-21). They rebounded on Sunday by defeating Coastal Alabama's No. 1 pair in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14, and followed with another straight-set victory over Central's No. 1 pair, 21-18, 22-20. Their lone Sunday loss came against Coastal Alabama's No. 2 pair (12-21, 11-21).

The exhibition provided valuable experience for Central's first beach volleyball squad as the program took its first competitive steps and laid the foundation for future success.