MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The No.15-ranked Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team (8-6) opened up play in the FIU Surf N’ Turf on Friday, splitting their matches with a huge 4-1 win over FGCU (6-6), before falling in a hard-fought 3-2 battle against the No. 2 team in the nation, USC (11-1).
NO. 15 FAU 4 – FGCU 1Ashleigh Adams and Julie Honzovicova got things started for the Sandy Owls, earning a straight-set victory over FGCU’s Shelby Beisner and Trinity Rosales, 21-11, 21-16. Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman then extended the FAU lead to two after taking another straight-set victory on court one against the Eagles’ Kacie Johnson/Maddison Parmelly, 21-19, 21-18. FGCU captured court five to cut the Sandy Owls’ lead back to just one as Alivia Orvieto and Stephanie Young fell against FGCU’s Jacqueline Carpenter and Kristina Gluc, 19-21, 15-21. However, FAU bounced back shortly after as Courtney Moon and Logan Mignerey clinched the dual for the Sandy Owls with a three-set victory on court four, 19-21, 21-13, 19-17. Emma Grace Robertson and Jillienne Cangelosi closed things out for FAU, clinching the Sandy Owls fourth point in a three-set comeback on court three, 16-21, 21-19, 15-9.
Scores
1. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) def. Kacie Johnson/Maddison Parmelly (FGCU) 21-19, 21-18 (finished second)
2. Ashleigh Adams/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) def. Shelby Beisner/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) 21-11, 21-16 (finished first)
3. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) def. Dylan Brewer/Nicole De Oliveira (FGCU) 16-21, 21-19, 15-9 (finished fifth)
4. Courtney Moon/Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Lexie Hamilton/Kaitlyn Luebbers (FGCU) 19-21, 21-13, 19-17 (finished fourth)
5. Jacqueline Carpenter/Kristina Gluc (FGCU) def. Alivia Orvieto/Stephanie Young (FAU) 21-19, 21-15 (finished third)
NO. 15 FAU 2 – NO. 2 USC 3The Owls then closed out the day falling in a really close 3-2 battle against the No. 2 Trojans. USC captured the early lead as Kendall Mignery and Kate McLaughlin fell in a two-setter against USC’s Delaney Karl and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope, 19-21, 21-23. Robertson and Cangelosi evened the match for FAU, capturing a marathon two-setter on court three, 21-19 25-23. The Trojans retook the lead after taking court two as Adams and Honzovicova fell in a three-set battle against USC’s Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse, 21-15, 16-21, 9-15. USC clinched the match on court one as Austin and Jarman fell against the Trojans’ Madison Shields and Madison White, 21-18, 18-21, 9-15. However, the Sandy Owls closed things out strong as Moon and Logan Mignerey battled to a huge three-set victory on court four against USC’s Jenna Johnson and Mabyn Thomas, 13-21, 22-20, 19-17.
Scores
1. Madison Shields/Madison White (USC) def. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) 18-21, 21-18, 15-9 (finished fourth)
2. Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) def. Ashleigh Adams/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) 15-21, 21-16, 15-9 (finished third)
3. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) def. Delaynie Maple/Gabrielle Walker (USC) 21-19, 25-23 (finished second)
4. Courtney Moon/Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Jenna Johnson/Mabyn Thomas (USC) 13-21, 22-20, 19-17 (finished fifth)
5. Delaney Karl/Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope (USC) def. Kendall Mignerey/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) 21-19, 23-21 (finished first)
QUOTE FROM COACH GROTOWSKI“I’m really happy with the way we played today. We have been working really hard to play more aggressively and I saw plenty of it today! Super proud of the team for their willingness play this way.”
NOTABLES
- FAU earned its second 4-1 win against FGCU this season.
- The Owls stole two matches away from the No. 2 team in the nation on courts three and four.
UP NEXTThe Sandy Owls will wrap up play in Miami Beach tomorrow beginning at 9:30 a.m. against No. 1 TCU and then taking on host No. 14 FIU at 2:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE OWLSFor updates, follow @FAUBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram, or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.
