DELAND, Fla. – The No. 12 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team (1-1) split their first day of the 2023 season at the Stetson season-opening tournament on Friday. The Sandy Owls opend the day with an impressive 4-1 win against FGCU (0-1), before falling in a hard-fought 3-2 battle against No. 15 Stetson (2-0).
QUOTES FROM COACH GROTOWSKI
“The first match of the day against FGCU was a great start. All our teams played clean high-level volleyball.”
“Our second match against Stetson was tougher. They served very well and got our teams in trouble. Our two freshmen, Ashleigh and Emma Grace, handled themselves well, going 2-0 on the day. I’m excited to get back to work tomorrow against two athletic teams.
NO. 12 FAU 4 – FGCU 1
The Sandy Owls pair of Stephanie Young and Alivia Orvieto earned the Owls first win, earning a straight set victory against Jacqueline Carpenter and Mia Thompson of FGCU, 21-18, 21-9, to start the day. Emma Grace Robertson and Jillienne Cangelosi then battled out a three-set win against FGCU’s Kristina Gluc and Kaitlyn Luebbers, 21-11, 24-25, 15-10, to give the Owls a 2-0 lead. Julie Honzovicova and Ashleigh Adams finished next, earning a straight-set win 21-11, 21-11 against FGCU’s Nicole De Oliveira and Dylan Brewer to clinch the match for the Sandy Owls at 3-0. Courtney Moon and Kate McLaughlin also earned a straight-set victory, 21-19, 21-19, for the Owls, defeating FGCU’s Shelby Beisner and Lexi Hamilton. But the Eagles picked up their sole victory of the dual on court one as Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman fell in a tough two-set battle against FGCU’s Kacie Johnson and Maddison Parmelly, 22-24, 19-21.
Scores
1. Kacie Johnson/Maddison Parmelly (FGCU) def. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) 24-22, 21-19 (finished fifth)
2. Julie Honzovicova/Ashleigh Adams (FAU) def. Nicole De Oliveira/Dylan Brewer (FGCU) 21-11, 21-11 (finished third)
3. Courtney Moon/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) def. Shelby Beisner/Lexie Hamilton (FGCU) 21-19, 21-19 (finished fourth)
4. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) def. Kristina Gluc/Kaitlyn Leubbers (FGCU) 21-11, 24-25, 15-10 (finished second)
5. Stephanie Young/Alivia Orvieto (FAU) def. Jacqueline Carpenter/Mia Thompson (FGCU) 27-25, 21-9 (finished first)
NO. 12 FAU 2 – NO. 15 STETSON 3
Stetson jumped out to a 1-0 lead after Young and Orvieto fell against Stetson’s Weintraub and Sirois in straight sets, 19-21, 19-21. The Sandy Owls bounced back to even the match at one all after Robertson and Cangelosi picked up their first straight-set win of the day, 21-19, 21-17. FAU took the lead at 2-1 after Adams and Honzovicova earned another straight-set victory against Stetson’s Namike and Ferraris on court two, 21-16, 21-18. However, the Hatters bounced back to claim the final two matches as Austin and Jarman fell against Stetson’s Henson and Zolnercikova, 13-21, 10-21, and McLaughlin and Moon closed out the dual, falling in three sets against Stetson’s Gauthier and Bramante, 14-21, 21-17, 9-15.
Scores
1. Shae Henson/Karin Zolnercikova (SU) def. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) 13-21, 10-21 (finished fourth)
2. Julie Honzovicova/Ashleigh Adams (FAU) def. Anete Namike/Carolina Ferraris (SU) 21-16, 21-18 (finished third)
3. Audrey Gauthier/Gabriella Bramante (SU) def. Courtney Moon/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) 14-21, 21-17, 9-15 (finished fifth)
4. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) def. Jenna Gathright/Aleksandra Stadnik (SU) 21-19, 21-17 (finished second)
5. Noelle Weintraub/Klea Sirois (SU) def. Stephanie Young/Alivia Orvieto (FAU) 19-21, 19-21 (finished first)
NOTABLES
- Coach Steve Grotowski picked up his first career win in the Owls 4-1 win over FGCU
- The Sandy Owls earned their 11th all-time win over FGCU
- Emma Grace Robertson, Stephanie Young, and Ashleigh Adams all earned their first career wins today
UP NEXT
The Owls continue play in the Stetson Tournament taking on Mercer tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., before closing out their opening weekend at 12 p.m. against UNF.
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