Huskers Begin Play at Queen of the Beach Challenge

Honolulu, Hawaii - The Nebraska sand volleyball team began pool play at the Queen of the Beach Challenge at Queen's Beach on Friday. Hawaii, USC, California and Nebraska are all taking part in the two-day tournament.

Kelly Hunter and Kadie Rolfzen went 2-0 in pool play. The duo beat USC's Lorna Brandt and Jo Kremer, 22-20, 21-10. They then defeated Bryce Bark and Emily Shults of Cal, 21-19, 21-14. Hunter and Rolfzen will play in the Gold Bracket during tomorrow's knockout rounds.

The other Husker pairs will be in the Silver Bracket. In Pool C, NU's number one pair of Justine Wong-Orantes and Alicia Ostrander split its two matches. The duo defeated Hawaii's Lara Schreiber and Heather Boyan, 21-18, 21-19, in the first session. 

Amber Rolfzen and Melanie Keil defeated Hawaii's Sydney Shinn and Gianna Guinasso 21-18, 21-18. They also went 1-1 in Pool G. 

Kira Larson and Alexa Ethridge went 1-1 on the day, as well. The duo defeated Cal's Kaiwi Schucht and Sammy Furlan, 19-21, 21-19, 15-12. 

In Pool E, Annika Albrecht and Cecilia Hall went 1-1, beating Inanna Eshoo and Ali Leong of Cal, 21-19, 17-21, 15-12.

Sydney Townsend and Kelsey Fien went 0-1 in Pool F. 

The Queen of the Beach Challenge ends on Saturday with bracket play.