No. 10 Sandy Owls Advance to C-USA Championship Semifinals

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The No. 10th-ranked (1) Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team (22-8) elevated past (4) UAB, 4-1 on Thursday. FAU clinched the match early by winning on courts one, three and four in straight sets against the Blazers. With the win, the Owls have broken a school record for most wins in a single season with 22. FAU is now set to play in the semifinals against (3) No. 15th-ranked Georgia State tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

QUOTABLES
On Brok/Morris becoming All-Americans for the second consecutive year and clinching the first dual point of the match:
“Mackenzie and Erica are still proving to be honest teammates and Leaders,” said C-USA Coach of the Year Capri Grotowski. “They make their responsibilities look so easy. They will leave the right stuff for the future Sandy Owls to pick up right where they left off!”
 HOW IT WAS DECIDED VS. (4) UAB
Vs. (4) UAB (W, 4-1)
Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris, who were announced as AVCA First Team All-Americans earlier today, took care of business on court one with a straight-set win, 21-16, 21-8. The pair was in a neck-and-neck match with UAB at first, but pulled away in set two to help the Owls win the first dual point. Ellie Austin and the C-USA Freshman of the Year’s Julie Honzovicva cruised to a straight-set, 21-18, 21-11, victory on court three. After court four’s Jillienne Cangelosi/Christine Jarman dominated in their first set, 21-11, the pair won in the second, 21-16, to help the Owls clinch the match. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova fell in a hard-fought match on court two, as UAB earned its first point over the Owls after previously being swept twice this season. On court five, Mica Allison/Logan Mignerey forced a third set and won their dual 13-21, 21-17, 15-10 to contribute to the 4-1 final in favor of FAU.

Scores
1. Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. Rachel Tam/Adraina Pereira (UAB) 21-16, 21-8 (finished first)
2. Arden Copping/Mikayla Law-Heese (UAB) def. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) 21-18, 21-18 (finished fourth)
3. Ellie Austin/Julie Honzvicova (FAU) def Naomi Ortiz/Dylynn Otte (UAB) 21-18, 21-11 (finished second)
4. Jillienne Candelosi/Christine Jarman (FAU) def. Jenna Gathright/Emma Andraka (UAB) 21-11, 21-16 (finished third)
5. Logan Mignerey/Mica Allison (FAU) def. Jessica Ennis/Ella Alexander (UAB) 13-21, 21-17, 15-10 (finished fifth)
 NOTABLES

  • The Owls broke a program record for most wins in a single season with 22
  • C-USA Pair of the Year’s Brok/Morris are 23-6 on the season, 94-29 all-time
  • Austin is now tied for the second most overall career wins on court three with 20. Her partner Honzovicova is just behind her in third
  • Austin/Honzovicova move up to a tie for sixth for most career wins as a pair in school history
  • Mignerey holds the record for most court five wins in the season, elevating to a 17-6 mark after today’s win. Her partner Allison is tied for seventh in court five wins in a season with eight
  • FAU has improved their all-time record against UAB to 8-0, beating the Blazers for the third time this season

 UP NEXT
FAU will face the (3) No. 15 Georgia State tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Eastern in the semifinals. The winner of that match will advance to the C-USA Championship title game. 
 OWLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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