MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – (March 29, 2019) – The Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Tulane 3-2 in its second match of the day on Friday. The Sandy Owls defeated no. 20 TCU 3-2 in their first match at the FIU Surf N’ Turf Invitational. FAU is now 11-6 on the year.
Match 1 vs. #20 TCU
On court five, Jillenne Cangelosi and Megan Mcgrath won the second set 21-19 to force a third, but lost 15-12. Kaila Dorish and Savannah Pesante had to rally from a 21-17 loss in the first set to win at no. 4. It was just the second time this season the duo has needed three sets to record a victory. Amanda Silva and Nicole Grant won the first set by a narrow 22-20 margin, but steamrolled their way to a 21-5 win in the second set to complete the sweep on court three. Mackenzie Morris and Erica Brok won 21-18, 21-14 on court two. Carly Scarbrough and Nicole Navarro returned to their spot at the top of the lineup, but fell in straight sets. Bailey Myott and Sam Gott rallied from a set one loss to win in three on the exhibition court.
#15 Florida Atlantic 3, #20 TCU 2
1. – Mandi Orellana/Haven Hill (TCU) def. Carly Scarbrough/Nicole Navarro (FAU), 21-19, 21-9
2. – Mackenzie Morris/Erica Brok (FAU) def. Molly Scheel/Taylor Bradley (TCU), 21-18, 21-14
3. – Amanda Silva/Nicole Grant (FAU) vs. Victoria McDonald/Jaelyn Greene (TCU), 22-20, 21-5
4. – Kaila Dorish/Savannah Pesante (FAU) vs. Caroline White/Jordan Westendorff (TCU), 17-21, 24-22, 15-12
5. – Avery Arellano/Hailey Brockett (TCU) def. Jillienne Cangelosi/Megan McGrath (FAU), 21-18, 19-21, 15-10
Ext. – Bailey Myott/Sam Gott (FAU) vs. Jensyn Bledsoe/Claire Doyle (TCU), 21-23, 21-16, 15-11
Match 2 vs. Tulane
Navarro and Scarbrough lost by matching 21-13 scores on court one, followed by Dorish and Pesante losing for just the fourth time this season, 21-15, 21-19, on court four. That loss put the Owls one point away from defeat. Morris and Brok put FAU on the board with a 21-19, 21-16 win at no. 2. Cangelosi and McGrath evened the score with a 21-13, 21-13 sweep on court five. They brought the entire match down to the no. 3 court. Silva and Grant took the first set 21-19, then lost the second 21-13, before outlasting the Tulane duo 16-14 in the third to take the match for the Owls.
#15 Florida Atlantic 3, (RV) Tulane 2
1. – Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torrruella (TUL) def. Carly Scarbrough/Nicole Navarro, 21-13, 21-13
2. – Mackenzie Morris/Erica Brok (FAU) def. Lauren Orlich/Rio Frohhoff (TUL), 21-19, 21-16
3. – Amanda Silva/Nicole Grant (FAU) def. Tarin Mergener/Addie Hermstad (TUL), 21-19, 13-21, 16-14
4. – Haley Gibson/Ellie Leitko (TUL) def. Kaila Dorish/Savannah Pesante (FAU), 21-15, 21-19
5. – Jillienne Cangelosi/Megan McGrath (FAU) def. Morgan Esters/Gabby Becerra (TUL), 21-13, 21-13
Quotable
FAU Head Coach Capri Grotowski
“We had two tough matches today. (TCU and Tulane) both played great. I’m proud of how we played at the end. We played to win and that’s what happened.”
UP NEXT
The Owls continue action at the FIU Surf N’ Turf Invitational on Saturday, March 30. FAU plays no. 16 Grand Canyon at 10 a.m. and no. 4 LSU at 3 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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– FAU –
Florida Atlantic University Athletics:
FAU Athletics is comprised of 21 intercollegiate teams involving 450 student athletes that compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, beach volleyball, cheer and dance. The Owls are a NCAA Division I-A (FBS) institution and compete in Conference USA and the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) (Beach Volleyball, Men’s Swimming). The Owls have been playing football since 2001 and have captured two bowl games. The dance team finished its 2014 season No. 8, nationally. FAU Cheer won a national championship in 2016.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.
