TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 15 Florida Atlantic opened up play in the Unconquered Invitational in Tallahassee, as the Sandy Owls split their matches against Southern Miss, 4-1, and No. 7 LMU, 2-3, on Friday.
NO. 15 FAU 4 – SOUTHERN MISS 1
Courtney Moon and Logan Mignerey got things started for the Sandy Owls, earning an impressive two-set victory against Southern Miss’ Morgan Perry and Ashlyn Rough on court four to get FAU on the board first, 21-10, 21-11. Ashleigh Adams and Julie Honzovicova extended FAU’s lead to two as the duo picked up a straight-set win on court two against the Golden Eagles’ Hallie Phelan and Taylor Pierce, 21-17, 21-16. Emma Grace Robertson and Jillienne Cloud clinched the dual for the Sandy Owls, earning another two-set win, 21-18, 21-19, against USM’s Valeria Siakidou and Reagan Sandlin. The Golden Eagles got one back on court one as Southern Miss’ Ola Chudzik and Vanessa Hurnikova topped Chirstine Jarman and Nikki Baer, 17-21, 13-21. However, the Sandy Owls’ pair five of Alivia Orvieto and Stephanie Young closed out the match earning FAU’s fourth point after a three-set comeback win against the Golden Eagles’ Madison Cassidy and Kellie Garraway, 19-21, 21-12, 15-11.
Scores
1. Ola Chudzik/Vanessa Hurnikova (USM) def. Christine Jarman/Nikki Baer (FAU) 21-17, 21-13 (finished fourth)
2. Ashleigh Adams/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) def. Hallie Phelan/Taylor Pierce (USM) 21-17, 21-16 (finished second)
3. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cloud (FAU) def. Valeria Siakidou/Reagan Sandlin (USM) 21-18, 21-19 (finished third)
4. Courtney Moon/Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Morgan Perry/Ashlyn Rough (USM) 21-10, 21-11 (finished first)
5. Alivia Orvieto/Stephanie Young (FAU) def. Madison Cassidy/Kellie Garraway (USM) 19-21, 21-12, 15-11 (finished fifth)
NO. 15 FAU 2 – NO. 7 LMU 3
Ashleigh Adams and Julie Honzovicova finished the day perfect and picked up the Sandy Owls first point against Loyola Marymount’s Emily Anderson and Alisha Stevens, 21-17, 21-10. Florida Atlantic took a 2-0 lead after capturing another straight-set win on court four, 21-14, 21-14. Loyola Marymount picked up its first win of the day, cutting into the Sandy Owls lead after Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman fell in a two-setter against the Lions’ Melanie Paul and Vihelmiina Prihti, 19-21, 16-21. After a lengthy rain delay, Logan Mignerey and Stephanie Young dropped a tough three-set battle against LMU’s Madi Firnett and Isabelle Tucker, 12-21, 31-29, 13-15. The Lions then clinched the match after Emma Grace Robertson and Jillienne Cloud fell in a marathon three-setter against LMU’s Kristine Garder and Jacinda Ramirez, 21-16, 18-21, 23-25.
Scores
1. Melanie Paul/Vilhelmiina Prihti (LMU) def. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) 21-19, 21-16 (finished third)
2. Ashleigh Adams/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) def. Emily Anderson/Alisha Stevens (LMU) 21-17, 21-10 (finished first)
3. Kristine Garder/Jacinda Ramirez (LMU) def. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cloud (FAU) 16-21, 21-18, 25-23 (finished fifth)
4. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Chloe Hooker/Isabelle Reffel (LMU) 21-14, 21-14 (finished second)
5. Madi Firnett/Isabelle Tucker (LMU) def. Logan Mignerey/Stephanie Young (FAU) 21-12, 29-31, 15-13 (finished fourth)
NOTABLES
- The Sandy Owls move to 13-9 on the season.
- FAU improved to 2-0 against Southern Miss this season.
- Ashleigh Adams and Juli Honzovicova improved their team second-best record to 15-6, while Emma Grace Robertson and Jillienne Cloud moved their team-best mark to 16-6.
- Today marked the first pairings of Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova, who moved to 2-0 this season, as well as Christine Jarman and Nikki Baer.
UP NEXT
FAU will close out play in the Unconquered Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, April 8 with matches beginning against No. 5 LSU at 9:45 a.m. and then host No. 3 Florida State at 1:30 p.m.
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