| 2/23/2024 | No. 11 Women’s Beach Volleyball TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 11 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team (2-0) opened their 2024 season in a big way on Friday, earning a pair of Top-20 wins against No. 12 Georgia State (0-1), 4-1, and No. 17 South Carolina (0-2), 5-0. NO. 11 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 4 – NO. 12 GEORGIA STATE 1 The Sandy Owls pair of Alivia Orvieto and Logan Mignerey earned the Owls first win of the season, earning a comeback victory over Georgia State’s Alya Johnson and Ellie Neville, 16-21, 21-12, 16-14. The Panthers evened things up at 1-1 after Olivia Strandberg and Mikayla Law-Heese fell in a three-set battle against GSU’s Savannah Ebarb and Destiny White, 18-21, 21-19, 8-15. Florida Atlantic retook the lead 2-1 after Julie Honzovicova and Kate McLauglin picked up the Sandy Owls first straight-set sweep of the day, defeating Elise Saga and Aliisa Vuorinen, 21-17, 21-15. Ashleigh Adams and Sloane Woolwine clinched the match for Florida Atlantic, earning another straight-set win on court two against the Panthers’ Lila Bordis and Aree Keller, 23-21, 21-12. Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova closed out the match, picking up the Sandy Owls third straight-set win of the match against Georgia State’s Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary, 26-24, 21-15.Scores 1. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Angel Ferary/Bella Ferary (GSU) 26-24, 21-15 (finished fifth) 2. Ashleigh Adams/Sloane Woolwine (FAU) def. Lila Bordis/Aree Keller (GSU) 23-21, 21-12 (finished fourth) 3. Julie Honzovicova/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) def. Elise Saga/Aliisa Vuorinen (GSU) 21-17, 21-15 (finished third) 4. Savannah Ebarb/Destiny White (GSU) def. Olivia Strandberg/Mikayla Law-Heese (FAU) 21-18, 19-21, 15-8 (finished second) 5. Alivia Orvieto/Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Alya Johnson/Ellie Neville (GSU) 16-21, 21-12, 16-14 (finished first) NO. 11 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 5 – NO. 17 SOUTH CAROLINA 0 Alivia Orvieto and Logan Mignerey put the Sandy Owls in front first, capturing a three-set win against South Carolina’s Evie Ziffer and Sophie Bengoechea, 18-21, 21-18, 19-17. Oliva Strandberg and Mikayla Law-Heese bounced back in a big way against the Gamecocks, picking up their first win of the season in a three-set battle against SC’s Chae Teal and Jolie Cranford, 20-22, 22-20, 15-10. Ashleigh Adams and Sloane Woolwin earned their second match-clinching victory of the day, defeating South Carolina’s Abigail Lagemann and Peyton Yamagata, 17-21, 21-16, 15-9. Julie Honzovicova and Kate McLaughlin extended the Sandy Owls lead to 4-0, capturing a three-set win on court three against SC’s Riley Whitesides and Hannah Mackenhausen, 14-21, 22-20, 17-15. The Sandy Owls top pair of Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova closed out the day and Florida Atlantic’s 5-0 sweep of South Carolina, defeating the Gamecock’s Skylar Allen and Allison Coens, 21-18, 18-21, 16-14. 1. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Skylar Allen/Allison Coens (SC) 21-18, 18-21, 16-14 (finished fifth) 2. Ashleigh Adams/Sloane Woolwine (FAU) def. Abigail Lagemann/Peyton Yamagata (SC) 17-21, 21-16, 15-9 (finished third) 3. Julie Honzovicova/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) def. Riley Whitesides/Hanna Mackenhausen (SC) 14-21, 22-20, 17-15 (finished fourth) 4. Olivia Strandberg/Mikayla Law-Heese (FAU) def. Chase Teal/Jolie Cranford (SC) 20-22, 22-20, 15-10 (finished second) 5. Alivia Orvieto/Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Evie Ziffer/Sophie Bengoechea (SC) 18-21, 21-18, 19-17 (finished first) NOTABLES The Sandy Owls earned their 10th all-time win over Georgia State and secured their 4th all-time win vs. South CarolinaCourtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova are now tied for second all-time in career wins as a pair at Florida Atlantic with their pair of wins today, improving to 31-10.Ashleigh Adams/Sloane Woolwine, Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova, Kate McLaughlin/Julie Honzovicova, and Alivia Orvieto/Logan Mignerey all moved to 2-0 on the season, while Olivia Strandberg/Mikayla Law-Heese are 1-1 after day one.Strandberg and Woolwine earned their first career wins today, while Law-Heese picked up her first career win as a Sandy Owl HEAD COACH STEVE GROTOWSKI QUOTABLE “We started down in both matches today. Georgia State and South Carolina came out playing at a very high level but our girls were patient. They worked to stay in the matches and were able to pull out some close third sets. I was so impressed with the whole group!” UP NEXT The Owls continue play in the Tampa Invite tomorrow, facing off against No. 18 Arizona State at 12 p.m., before closing out their opening weekend at 4 p.m. against host Tampa. Follow the Owls For updates, follow @FAUBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram, or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.Robes Law Group is the presenting sponsor of Florida Atlantic beach volleyball for the 2024 season. |
