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Clay Murray Joins Navy Women's Swimming Coaching Staff

John Morrison announced today. “We are incredibly excited to have Clay join our program,” said Morrison.  “Clay brings a wealth of experiences and success with him from his previous programs.  His passion for coaching and recruiting will promote our success nationally.  Clay will certainly be an incredible addition to our team.”   “I am truly […]

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Clay Murray Joins Navy Women's Swimming Coaching Staff

John Morrison announced today.

“We are incredibly excited to have Clay join our program,” said Morrison.  “Clay brings a wealth of experiences and success with him from his previous programs.  His passion for coaching and recruiting will promote our success nationally.  Clay will certainly be an incredible addition to our team.”  

“I am truly honored to accept the position of assistant coach at the U.S. Naval Academy,” said Murray.  “The opportunity to contribute to such a prestigious institution, while working alongside head coach John Morrison and assistant coach Carlye Ellis, is a privilege I deeply value. I want to thank coach Morrison for offering me this incredible opportunity! I am also excited to work with the strong, dedicated women on the team and help them continue to build on the Academy’s tradition of excellence. GO NAVY!!”

Murray served as the recruiting coordinator and was an on-deck coach for the men’s and women’s teams at Ball State.   The Cardinals placed fifth at the Mid-American Conference women’s championship in each of his three seasons while the men’s team placed fourth in the MAC in 2023, fifth in 2024 and finished in fifth place at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in 2025.  Ball State established 45 school records during his three seasons and also saw Apsara Sakbun represent Cambodia in the 2024 Olympics.

The native of St. Thomas, Pa., graduated from James Buchanan High School and went on to swim at Westminster.  He earned all-conference accolades at Westminster as a junior (second team) and senior (first team).  Murray lettered in each of his four seasons and graduated from the school in 2019 with a degree in child and family studies.

He served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for two years before accepting the same position at John Carroll for the 2021-22 season.  The Blue Streaks won the men’s and women’s Ohio Athletic Conference titles and the men’s team recorded its best finish at the NCAA (DIII) Championship (13th) that year.  Murray, who also was the program’s recruiting coordinator, was named the athletic department’s assistant coach of the year and was part of the OAC Men’s Swimming & Diving Coaching Staff of the Year in his lone season at the school.

He joined the Ball State program in the summer of 2022.

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Beach Volleyball Goes Back-to-Back as Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Champions

Story Links Results (v UTM) OVC Tournament Central CHATTANOOGA — For the second consecutive season, the Chattanooga beach volleyball team punched its ticket into the NCAA Tournament after the Sandy Mocs defeated UT Martin 3-2 to become Ohio Valley Conference […]

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April 26, 2025

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CHATTANOOGA — For the second consecutive season, the Chattanooga beach volleyball team punched its ticket into the NCAA Tournament after the Sandy Mocs defeated UT Martin 3-2 to become Ohio Valley Conference tournament champions on Saturday at the UTC Sports Complex.

In front of a raucous home crowd at the UTC Sports Complex, the Mocs (26-5, 10-0 OVC) fought through one of the team’s most dramatic matches in program history as it took all five courts to get the job done. However, it was ultimately the reigning back-to-back OVC Pair of the Year of Neva Clark and Corina Vale who dealt the clinching blow on Court 1 for the Mocs, securing yet another title for the Sandy Moc Dynasty.

“It was gritty,” head coach Darin Van Horn said following the match. “UT Martin was an amazing opponent and every dual we’ve had against them has been a battle. It was just a gritty win for us. Once we split the first round I knew it was going to be a long road ahead, and then it came down to our 1’s pair and there’s nobody else I’d want to have in that position than them. It was just awesome to finish it off that way.”

Both Clark and Vale, as well as UTC’s Court 5 pairing of Sydney Jackwin and Ansley Gulledge received spots on the OVC’s All-Tournament Team for their efforts over the course of the championship weekend. Jackwin and Gulledge were ultimately named as OVC Tournament MVPs after finishing the tournament 3-0 as a pair.

“Coming in as transfers, we didn’t really know what to expect especially going into the tournament ranked as the No. 1 seed,” Gulledge said. “We definitely felt the pressure, but we just stayed in control on our side of the net. It’s the only thing we can control. Syd and I really thrive when we bring a lot of energy, so we just created our energy and trusted each other out there.”

“For everyone else here, they had already had the feeling of what this tournament is like and what it’s like to play in it and win it,” Jackwin continued. “For us, yeah it was new but at the same time we were like ‘why not us?’ Darin picked us and wanted us on the team for a reason.

“He gave us the opportunity to play and believed in us, so we just focused on that. Ansley and I, if either of us start to get in our heads we’re just so good at lifting the other person right back up. It may be our first year playing together, but it feels like she and I have been playing together for years.”

Chattanooga will now wait to learn who the Sandy Mocs will be matching up against in the 2025 NCAA Tournament next weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The 2025 NCAA Tournament is set to run May 2-4 at Gulf Place Beach.

Chattanooga vs. UT Martin – W 3-2

The 2025 OVC title match lived up to the hype right from the get-go as both the Mocs and Skyhawks had their sights set on booking a trip to Gulf Shores. For the championship match formatting, it would be Courts 4 and 5 that would get things underway.

Chattanooga’s Court 5 pairing drew first blood in the in-state rivalry, as the OVC Tournament MVPs Sydney Jackwin and Ansley Gulledge got the ball rolling in favor of the Mocs. The No. 5 duo was dominant in their match, as they have been all weekend, picking up back-to-back 21-13 set wins to put the Mocs up 1-0 early-on in the contest.

The Sandy Mocs then looked to Joy Courtright and Julia Lawrence on Court 4 in what truly was a pivotal match in the game. With a win the Mocs would move just one more victory away from the title, while a loss would level things out for the Skyhawks at the turn.

Courtright and Lawrence got straight to work, feeding off of the crowd’s energy to put together a 21-13 win in the opening set of their match. UT Martin responded right back, however, forcing a third frame after a 21-14 result in the second. It was then the Skyhawks that dealt the final blow on Court 4, as the UTM duo earned a 15-8 win in the third set to officially level things out at 1-1 as Courts 1, 2 and 3 got ready to get underway.

All attention then turned to the top three pairings of the day, as a season of a lifetime for the Sandy Mocs relied on just two more victories out on the beach. All three matches provided thrilling first sets as across the board the opening set scores read: 24-22, 21-19 and 24-22.

McKenna Faychak and Maddie Lecik were the lone UTC pair to win their first set in that Top 3 grouping, as Faychak and Lecik grinded out a 21-19 victory to open their match. Galvanized by their tight win in the first, ‘Kenny and Lee’ left no doubt in their second set as the pair cruised to a 21-11 victory to seal a straight-set sweep on Court 2 that put the Mocs ahead 2-1.

Once again, the Skyhawks found a response though as UT Martin’s Court 3 duo snuck out a narrow 24-22 win over Paige Gallentine and Kit Gresham to kick off their matchup in the No. 3 position. While the senior duo of Gallentine and Gresham left all that they could out on the court in what was their final match at the UTC Sports Complex, the Skyhawks nabbed another 21-15 victory in the second, leveling out the score once more at 2-2.

It was here that the weight of the match, and the season, fell on Court 1. Chattanooga’s top flight pair, Neva Clark and Corina Vale, found themselves in an early hole having dropped the opening set of their match 24-22. It would be over the next two sets, however, that Clark/Vale proved why they are back-to-back OVC Pair of the Year award winners for the Mocs.

Clark and Vale went to work in the second frame, powering past UTM’s No. 1 duo with a 21-15 win. At this point, the record crowd at UTC Sports Complex was at a fever pitch as Chattanooga’s season came down to a third and final set.

From the start of the third frame, Clark and Vale proved they had nerves of steel and were up for the challenge as the UTC pair inched closer and closer to the thrilling conclusion of Championship Saturday. Every shot for the Mocs fell while every attempt from the Skyhawks had an answer, and it looked as though no was going to stop Clark and Vale from willing the Mocs to the victory.

With the scoreboard reading 14-9 in favor of Clark/Vale, it was one last point from the senior Neva Clark that sealed the deal for the Sandy Mocs. The three-time Player of the Year, with her final career point at the UTC Sports Complex, had just clinched the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference title for Chattanooga.

It was a dream realized for a woman who has given everything to building up Chattanooga beach volleyball to what it is today. Not only does she leave behind a legacy; she leaves behind a dynasty.

1. Neva Clark/Corina Vale (UTC) def. Riley Rushing/Dylan Sulcer (UTM) 22-24, 21-15, 15-9

2. McKenna Faychak/Maddie Lecik (UTC) def. Olivia O’Keefe/Kayla Bryant (UTM) 21-19, 21-11

3. Jenna Vallee/Lauren Mariscal (UTM) def. Paige Gallentine/Kit Gresham (UTC) 24-22, 21-15

4. Sydney Eckhardt/Reagan McGee (UTM) def. Joy Courtright/Julia Lawrence (UTC) 13-21, 21-14, 15-8

5. Sydney Jackwin/Ansley Gulledge (UTC) def. Kylie Surratt/Kristin Phillips (UTM) 21-13, 21-13

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

FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA BEACH VOLLEYBALL

For the most up-to-date information regarding Chattanooga Beach Volleyball, please follow us on Twitter (@GoMocsBeachVB), Instagram (@GoMocsBeachVB) & Facebook (Chattanooga Athletics Department) or visit GoMocs.com.

GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.



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Former longtime St. Louis Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty has died

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KY3/Edited News Release) – The St. Louis Cardinals shared Saturday afternoon that former longtime General Manager Walt Jocketty has died at the age of 74. Jocketty held the title of General Manager for the Cardinals from 1994-2007, including the team’s World Championship season in 2006. “On behalf of the entire St. Louis […]

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Former longtime St. Louis Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty has died

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KY3/Edited News Release) – The St. Louis Cardinals shared Saturday afternoon that former longtime General Manager Walt Jocketty has died at the age of 74.

Jocketty held the title of General Manager for the Cardinals from 1994-2007, including the team’s World Championship season in 2006.

“On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I would like to offer our condolences to Walt’s family and his many friends,” said Cardinals’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill DeWitt, Jr.  “Walt was our first GM when we purchased the ball club, and he helped to lead our baseball operations through some of the franchise’s most successful and memorable years.  He will be sorely missed, but long remembered for his distinguished career in baseball.”

Under Jocketty, the Cardinals reached the postseason seven times while compiling a .536 overall winning percentage (1,117-968 record). They won the 2006 World Championship, two National League pennants and six N.L. Central Division titles. St. Louis reached the 100-win plateau in 2004 (105 – tied for second most in franchise history) and 2005 (100).

Jocketty made a transformational decision in October 1995 when he hired Tony La Russa, who would go on to become the winningest manager in club annals and be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Jocketty also revamped the team’s roster, and in 1996 the Cardinals returned to postseason play for the first time in nine seasons.

Jocketty’s bold transactions were key to the organization’s steadfast success – highlighted by acquiring first baseman Mark McGwire from the Oakland A’s in 1997, third baseman Scott Rolen from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002 and pitcher Adam Wainwright from the Atlanta Braves in 2003, and signing pitchers Jason Isringhausen and Chris Carpenter as free agents in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

Leading up to the 2000 campaign, Jocketty became the first general manager in baseball history to trade for a 20-game winner (Darryl Kile from the Colorado Rockies) and a 40-home run hitter (Jim Edmonds from the Anaheim Angels) in the same offseason. Jocketty also was instrumental in building the Cardinals through the Draft, helping to land future stars like Matt Morris (1995), Albert Pujols (1999) and Yadier Molina (2000).

Jocketty was named the MLB Executive of the Year in 2000 and 2004. Also in 2004, he received the Rube Foster Legacy Award from the Negro Leagues Hall of Fame as the N.L. Executive of the Year.  He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Before coming to the Cardinals, Jocketty served as assistant general manager/player personnel for the Colorado Rockies in 1994. Previously, he was with the Athletics for 14 years as director of minor league operations and scouting and director of baseball administration.

While with the Athletics, Jocketty played a key role in establishing the Arizona Rookie League and the Dominican Summer League. He also served on MLB’s operations committee. Jocketty’s first job in professional baseball was with the Triple-A Iowa Oaks, where La Russa was the manager in 1979.

From 2008-15, Jocketty was president of baseball operations and general manager of the Cincinnati Reds, and he subsequently served as executive advisor to chief executive officer Robert H. Castellini. After the 2014 season, Jocketty received the John Schuerholz Award honoring his 20 years of service as a general manager.

A native of Minneapolis, Jocketty attended Marshall High School and played baseball, basketball, football and hockey. The school’s nickname was Cardinals.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.

Copyright 2025 KY3. All rights reserved.

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No. 18 FGCU falls in nail-biting ASUN Semifinal match

Story Links FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball pushed second-seeded and No. 17 North Florida to the brink Saturday in the Atlantic Sun Conference Semifinals, falling 3-2 in Huntsville, Alabama. The third-seeded Eagles were three points away from advancing to the ASUN Championship match against top-seeded Stetson. […]

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April 26, 2025

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University beach volleyball pushed second-seeded and No. 17 North Florida to the brink Saturday in the Atlantic Sun Conference Semifinals, falling 3-2 in Huntsville, Alabama.

The third-seeded Eagles were three points away from advancing to the ASUN Championship match against top-seeded Stetson. With the match tied 2-2, FGCU’s No. 1 pair of Kaitlyn Luebbers and Nicole De Oliveira strived to clinch in the third set. Luebbers and De Oliveira were up 12-11 in a back-and-forth battle in the third, but the duo would succumb to a late 3-0 rally from UNF’s top pair, dropping the individual dual 15-13 to give North Florida the tight 3-2 win.

De Oliveira saved set point and the match in the second set with a diving dig, giving way to a 21-19 win to force the season-altering third set. The final outcome came down to near-simultaneous matches in the third set.

FGCU picked up a critical three-set win on court two from Alexis Keeter and Ava Lilliquist just moments prior to the loss on one, tying the match 2-2 to give the Eagles hope. The pair painted the back line to win 15-13 as Luebbers and De Oliveira tied their three-set thriller 10-10. On the scoreboard, the Eagles were trailing 2-1 at the time of the Keeter and Lilliquist victory. A loss there would have given UNF a 3-1 win. 

The Eagles put the Ospreys on notice early after UNF’s easy, 3-0 sweep the day prior. FGCU won just a single set the first time the teams squared off in the tournament’s winner’s bracket quarterfinal round on Friday.

Andrea Dietz and Mia Thompson got things started Saturday by producing a quick, straight-set sweep on court four, 21-13 and 21-11, to give FGCU a 1-0 lead.

FGCU’s No. 5 pair dropped a hard-fought match in straight sets to allow UNF to tie 1-1, but the duo pushed both sets beyond 21. UNF edged FGCU on court five 25-23 and 23-21. UNF then went up 2-1 after another straight-set battle on court three before Keeter and Lilliqiust tied it 2-2 to set up the final dramatics on court one for Luebbers and De Oliveira.

No. 18 FGCU capped the 2025 campaign 22-13 overall and just three points away from advancing to the ASUN Championship. The Eagles took down four ranked opponents in 2025.

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Marist Water Polo Advances To Championship Match

POUGHKEEPSIE, New York- The Marist water polo team advanced to its second-straight MAAC Championship match, Saturday afternoon. The Red Foxes triumphed against Villanova 9-5 in the MAAC Semifinal match behind Inés Sánchez’s dominant match in net. Inés Sánchez led the Red Foxes in net in the semifinal win. Sánchez dominated, recording 13 […]

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April 26, 2025

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POUGHKEEPSIE, New York- The Marist water polo team advanced to its second-straight MAAC Championship match, Saturday afternoon. The Red Foxes triumphed against Villanova 9-5 in the MAAC Semifinal match behind Inés Sánchez’s dominant match in net.

Inés Sánchez led the Red Foxes in net in the semifinal win. Sánchez dominated, recording 13 saves in the win.

Kendell De Beer and Lela McCaroll led the Red Foxes with two goals apiece in the win.

 

  • Quarter One:

    • The Red Foxes began the first quarter with two goals from Samantha Bentley and Liana Hunt.

    • The Red Foxes scored the two goals within a minute and took a 2-0 lead with 5:46 to go in the quarter.

    • Villanova countered with two goals in the in the final five minutes and evened the match at 2-2 after one quarter of play.

  • Quarter Two:

    • The Red Foxes, once again, began the second quarter with two goals from Kendell De Beer. The Red Foxes took an early 4-2 lead with 5:41 left in the half.

    • Villanova scored a goal with 5:02 left in the half, which cut the Red Foxes lead to 4-3.

    • Lela McCarroll extended the Red Foxes lead with back-to-back goals, which gave the Red Foxes a 6-3 lead.

    • Villanova scored a goal with a minute left in the half, as the Red Foxes took a 6-4 lead into the half.

  • Quarter Three:

    • The Red Foxes started the scoring in the third quarter with a goal from Ella Baumgarten with 5:16 to play in the quarter.

    • The Wildcats countered with a goal, but Paige Naegle scored her first goal of the match and gave the Red Foxes a 8-5 lead.

    • The Red Foxes led 8-5 heading into the final frame.

  • Quarter Four:

    • Rachel Dean scored the lone goal in the quarter, as the Red Foxes triumphed 9-5 against the Wildcats.

    • The Red Foxes defense and Inés Sánchez posted a scoreless a fourth quarter.

 

  • Inés Sánchez tallied 13 saves in the semifinal win.

  • The Red Foxes scored nine goals on 28 shots in the win.

  • Kendell De Beer and Lela McCarroll scored two goals apiece in the win.

  

  • 2025 MAAC Championship match.

  • The Red Foxes compete against Wagner for the title on April 27 at noon.

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PODIUM.

PODIUM. 🥉 🇺🇸 run in Paris ends with Bronze! Source 6

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PODIUM. 🥉

🇺🇸 run in Paris ends with Bronze!



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Georgia State Wins Third Straight Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship

Story Links Championship Central | Bracket   FOLEY, Ala. – Georgia State won its third consecutive Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship with a 3-1 victory over UNCW Saturday afternoon at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.   Georgia State earns the Sun Belt’s automatic berth to the 2025 NCAA National Collegiate Beach […]

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Championship Central | Bracket
 
FOLEY, Ala. – Georgia State won its third consecutive Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship with a 3-1 victory over UNCW Saturday afternoon at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.
 
Georgia State earns the Sun Belt’s automatic berth to the 2025 NCAA National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship, to be held May 2-4 in Gulf Shores, Ala.
 
The Panthers improved their undefeated record to 12-0 in Sun Belt tournament matches since the conference’s first beach volleyball championship in 2023.
 
Seeded second in the tournament Georgia State earned a straight-set victory on courts four and one, respectively, to build a 2-0 lead over UNCW. The Seahawks got a straight-set win of their own on court two thanks their All-Sun Belt Tournament Pair of senior Gracie Sistrunk and junior Lyvia Trimp, who posted a perfect 5-0 record in the tournament.
 
Moments later the Panthers clinched the victory on court three when Ellie Mozeleski and Aliisa Vuorinen closed out a three-set victory.

In the morning’s final semifinal match, third-seeded UNCW earned a thrilling comeback victory over top-seeded Coastal Carolina. The Seahawks fell behind, 2-1, after the Chanticleers posted a pair of straight-set wins, but closed out a three-set win on court one to draw even.

 

The match was decided on court three where UNCW dropped the first set, but rallied back to win the second frame before claiming the third and decisive set, 16-14, to clinch the win.

For complete coverage of the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship, please visit the Championship Central page.

 

2025 Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship All-Tournament Team

Sun Belt Elite Award: Amanda Chambers, Georgia State

Pair of the Tournament: Ayla Johnson/Aree Keller, Georgia State

Danica Singleton/Michaela Jefferson, Georgia State

Gracie Sistrunk/Lyvia Trimp, UNCW

Gabby LaPata/Sarah Thompson, UNCW

Raychel Ehlers/Ava Novello, Coastal Carolina

Jessie Fairly/Dylan Russell, Southern Miss

2025 Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship – Day 3 Results

Match 11: (3) UNCW def. (1) Coastal Carolina, 3-2

1. Gabby LaPata/Sarah Thompson (UNCW) def. Emma Kunaus/Frida Meincke Lyø (CCU), 21-18, 19-21, 15-13

2. Gracie Sistrunk/Lyvia Trimp (UNCW) def. Anna Rita/Madeline Sigmon (CCU), 21-16, 21-19

3. Traci Schrock/Annika Thompson (UNCW) def. Kristyna Koblizkova/Maya McNabney (CCU), 20-22, 21-19, 16-14

4. Raychel Ehlers/Ava Novello (CCU) def. Tamsie Black/Sophie Puhala (UNCW), 21-12, 23-21

5. Karis Gordon/Celia Ryan (CCU) def. Maddy Folks/Hannah Forbes (UNCW), 21-16, 21-19

 

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

 

Match 12: (2) Georgia State def. (3) UNCW, 3-1

1. Ayla Johnson/Aree Keller (GSU) def. Gabby LaPata/Sarah Thompson (UNCW), 21-12, 21-14

2. Gracie Sistrunk/Lyvia Trimp (UNCW) def. Savannah Ebarb/Destiny White (GSU), 21-18, 21-15

3. Ellie Mozeleski/Aliisa Vuorinen (GSU) def. Traci Schrock/Annika Thompson (UNCW), 21-17, 21-15

4. Michaela Jefferson/Danica Singleton (GSU) def. Tamsie Black/Sophie Puhala (UNCW), 21-17, 21-13

5. Kealy Dirner/Kaebre Sullivan (GSU) vs. Maddy Folks/Hannah Forbes (UNCW), 21-16, 20-20 unfinished

 

Order of Finish: 4, 1, 2, 3*

Saturday, April 26

Match 11 – No. 3 UNCW def. No. 1 Coastal Carolina, 3-2

Match 12 (Championship) – No. 2 Georgia State def. No. 3 UNCW, 3-1

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