BOCA RATON, Fla. – No. 15 Florida Atlantic closed out their regular season slate, hosting the Battle of the Beach Burrow and celebrating Senior Day. The Sandy Owls earned wins against No. 18 Stetson, 4-1, and St. Thomas, 5-0, but fell in a tight 3-2 battle against No. 12 FIU at the Beach Burrow on Saturday.
NO. 15 FAU 4 – NO. 18 STETSON 1
Emma Grace Robertson and Ashleigh Adams got the Sandy Owls started on Senior Day, turning in a straight-set win against Stetson’s Audrey Gauthier and Noelle Weintraub, 21-13, 21-19. The Hatters even the match at 1-1 on court five as Stephanie Young and Kate McLaughlin fell against Stetson’s Lauren Della and Aleksandra Stadnik, 18-21, 19-21. The Sandy Owls retook the lead after Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman captured a straight-set win over the Hatters’ Shae Henson and Karin Zolnercikova, 21-19, 22-20. Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova clinched the match for the Sandy Owls, earning a two-set victory on court three against Stetson’s Anete Namike and Carolina Ferraris, 21-16, 26-24. Florida Atlantic’s pair two of Julie Honzovicova and Jillienne Cloud closed out the 4-1 win for the Sandy Owls after securing their fourth straight-set win of the match against Stetson’s Gabriella Bramante and Tori Clement, 22-20, 21-14.
Scores
1. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) def. Shae Henson/Karin Zolnercikova (STET) 21-19, 22-20 (finished third)
2. Julie Honzovicova/Jillienne Cloud (FAU) def. Gabriella Bramante/Tori Clement (STET) 22-20, 21-14 (finished fifth)
3. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Anete Namike/Carolina Ferraris (STET) 21-16, 26-24 (finished fourth)
4. Emma Grace Robertson/Ashleigh Adams (FAU) def. Audrey Gauthier/Noelle Weintraub (STET) 21-13, 21-19 (finished first)
5. Lauren Della/Aleksandra Stadnik (STET) def. Stephanie Young/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) 21-18, 21-19 (finished second)
NO. 15 FAU 2 – NO. 12 FIU 3
The Sandy Owls jumped out to an opening 1-0 lead after Emma Grace Robertson and Ashleigh Adams got things started with a straight-set win over FIU’s Emily Meyer and Anna Davis, 21-15, 21-14. The Panthers evened things up at one all on court five as the Sandy Owls’ Stephanie Young and Alivia Orvieto dropped a two-set battle against FIU’s Alice Pratesi and Zuzanna Bielak, 13-21, 15-21. FIU picked up another win to take their first lead of the match at 2-1, after capturing a two-set win on court three as Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova fell 18-21, 17-21 against the Panthers’ Giada Bianchi and Lisa Luini. FIU then clinched on court one after Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman fell in a two-setter against FIU’s Milica Vukobrat and Lucie Pokorna, 10-21, 18-21. The Sandy Owls got one more back on court two with Julie Honzovicova and Jillienne Cloud securing a three-setter against FIU’s Rachele Mancinelli and Roberta Ribeiro, 28-26, 19-21, 15-7.
Scores
1. Milica Vukobrat/Lucie Pokorna (FIU) def. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) 21-10, 21-18 (finished fourth)
2. Julie Honzovicova/Jillienne Cloud (FAU) def. Rachele Mancinelli/Roberta Ribeiro (FIU) 28-26, 19-21, 15-7 (finished fifth)
3. Giada Bianchi/Lisa Luini (FIU) def. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) 21-18, 21-17 (finished third)
4. Emma Grace Robertson/Ashleigh Adams (FAU) def. Emily Meyer/Anna Davis (FIU) 21-15, 21-14 (finished first)
5. Alice Pratesi/Zuzanna Bielak (FIU) def. Stephanie Young/Alivia Orvieto (FAU) 21-13, 21-15 (finished second)
NO. 15 FAU 5 – ST. THOMAS 0
The Sandy Owls closed out the day with a dominant performance against the St. Thomas Bobcats. Kate McLaughlin and Logan Mignerey got things started, earning a two-set win against St. Thomas’ Mia Thomas and Kelly Rosario. Kelsie Roberts and Nieya Pelski extended the Sandy Owls’ lead to two after picking up the pairs first win of the season against the Bobcats’ Alayna Grinstead and Mahina Yamashita, 21-11, 21-17. Julie Honzovicova and Jillienne Cloud clinched the match for Florida Atlantic, winning a two-setter on court two against St. Thomas’ Alexandra MacAskill and Melanie Chiquillo, 21-10, 21-9. Emma Grace Robertson and Sydney Schroder paired up for the first time this season, pushing FAU’s lead to 4-0 after a 21-19, 21-11 win on court three. Christine Jarman and Kendall Mignery closed out the day for the Sandy Owls, capturing a 21-18, 21-12 win on court one to cap off Florida Atlantic’s 5-0 sweep.
Scores
1. Christine Jarman/Kendall Mignerey (FAU) def. Marin Black/Mya Thomas (STU) 21-18, 21-12 (finished fifth)
2. Julie Honzovicova/Jillienne Cloud (FAU) def. Alexandra MacAskill/Melanie Chiquillo (STU) 21-10, 21-9 (finished third)
3. Emma Grace Robertson/Sydney Schroder (FAU) def. Stephanie Gomez/Amanda Mishkin (STU) 21-19, 21-11 (finished fourth)
4. Kelsie Roberts/Nieya Pelski (FAU) def. Alayna Grinstead/Mahina Yamashita (STU) 21-11, 21-17 (finished second)
5. Kate McLaughlin/Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Mia Thomas/Kelly Rosario (STU) 21-10, 21-3 (finished first)
THOUGHTS FROM COACH GROTOWSKI
“Today was very special! This group of seniors is such an amazing group of women! Their leadership and work ethic are a major reason for our success this year. They will be missed but I’m excited to see what they do next because I know they will be successful after volleyball.”
NOTABLES
- The Sandy Owls improved to 16-13 to close out the regular season.
- Julie Honzovicova and Jillienne Cloud improved their perfect season mark to 5-0.
- Emma Grace Robertson and Ashleigh Adams improved to 3-2.
- The 2023 Sandy Owls senior class was celebrated during the Battle of the Beach Burrow, which will go down as one of the best senior classes in program history.
UP NEXT
The Sandy Owls will now prepare for postseason play as they prep for the C-USA Championships on April 27-29 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
For updates, follow @FAUBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram, or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.
