DELAND, Fla. – The No. 12 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team (3-1) closed out play in Stetson’s season-opening tournament on Saturday, earning their first sweep of the season, defeating the Mercer Bears 5-0, before finishing the day with a 4-1 win over North Florida.
QUOTES FROM COACH GROTOWSKI
“Today was really great! The whole team was really intentional on offense and aggressive from the service line. I’m happy with the effort of everyone to improve and looking forward to a good week of practice.”
NO. 12 FAU 5 – MERCER 0
The Sandy Owls pair of Stephanie Young and Alivia Orvieto swept Mercer’s Jordan Morris and Carly Lendhardt, 21-16, 21-16, to start the day and push the Owls in front 1-0. Courtney Moon and Kate McLaughlin battled against Mercer’s Alyssa Scoggins and Lexi Polychrones securing the opening set 21-11, before falling short in the second 24-26, however Moon and McLaughlin battled back to take the third, 15-10, and give the Owls the 2-0 advantage. FAU’s pairs Emma Grace Robertson and Jillienne Cangelosi, Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman, and Julie Honzovicova and Ashleigh Adams closed out the match earning back-to-back-to-back straight-set sweeps to give the Owls the 5-0 win.
Scores
1. Julie Honzovicova/Ashleigh Adams (FAU) def. Polychrones/Haddock (MU) 21-7, 21-10 (finished fifth)
2. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) def. Hardie O’Mara (MU) 21-15, 21-11 (finished fourth)
3. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) def. Benon Thomas-Warren (MU) 21-9, 21-15 (finished third)
4. Courtney Moon/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) def. Alyssa Scoggins/Lexi Polychrones (MU) 21-11, 24-26, 15-10 (finished second)
5. Stephanie Young/Alivia Orvieto (FAU) def. Jordan Morris/ Carly Lendhardt (MU) 21-16, 21-16 (finished first)
NO. 12 FAU 4 – UNF 1
Young and Orvieto opened things up again for the Owls against North Florida, posting a 21-19, 21-11 straight-set sweep to give the Owls the early advantage, 1-0. Courtney Moon and Kate McLaughlin and Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman finished second and third, earning another pair of straight-set sweeps, going 21-13, 21-17 and 21-9, 21-13, respectively to clinch the match and put the Sandy Owls up 3-0. UNF won on court four as the Osprey’s rallied from a one-set deficit to defeat the Sandy Owls’ Robertson and Cangelosi, 21-18, 14-21, 13-15, making it 3-1 FAU. However, the Sandy Owls secured the last two matches as Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman earned a straight-set win over UNF’s Katie Camp and Michaela Rezentes, 21-9, 21-13, before Julie Honzovicova and Ashleigh Adams closed out the match, rallying from dropping the opening set to win 18-21, 21-19, 15-11, and give the Sandy Owls the 4-1 victory.
Scores
1. Julie Honzovicova/Ashleigh Adams (FAU) def. Iris Fletcher/Audrey Brooks (UNF) 18-21, 21-19, 15-11 (finished fifth)
2. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) def. Katie Camp/Michaela Rezentes (UNF) 21-9, 21-13 (finished third)
3. Madison Epsy/Presley Murray (UNF) def. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) 21-18, 14-21, 13-15 (finished fourth)
4. Kate McLaughlin/Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Kelly McConekey/Hayden Wooldridge (UNF) 21-13, 21-17 (finished second)
5. Stephanie Young/Alivia Orvieto (FAU) def. Benanti/Murphy (UNF) 21-19, 21-11 (finished first)
NOTABLES
- The Sandy Owls earned their first sweep of the season with their 5-0 win over Mercer
- FAU improved to 2-0 all-time against Mercer
- The Sandy Owls 4-1 win over North Florida gave the FAU its eighth all-time victory against UNF (8-5)
UP NEXT
The Owls open their 2023 home slate next weekend as they host the FAU Beach Invitational on March 3-4 at the FAU Sand Volleyball Complex.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
For updates, follow @FAUBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram, or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.
