MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – No. 15 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball (9-7, 1-0 C-USA) closed out play in the Surf N’ Turf Invitational on Saturday, falling in a tough 5-0 contest against the national leader No. 1 TCU (15-0), but bounced back in the Sandy Owls’ finale, earning a 3-2 win over rival No. 14 FIU (7-6, 0-1 C-USA)
NO. 15 FAU 0 – NO. 1 TCU 5
The Sandy Owls just couldn’t find a way to handle the national leader, No. 1 TCU on Saturday. Ashleigh Adams and Julie Honzovicova fell first on court two as TCU’s Daniela Alvarez and Kate Privett won in two sets on court two, 13-21, 15-21. The Horned Frogs then extended their lead to two on court five as Kendall Mignerey and Kate McLaughlin fell in straight sets, 15-21, 19-21, against TCU’s Hailey Hamlett and Keagan Polk. TCU clinched the match on court one as the Sandy Owls’ pair one, Ellie Austin and Christine Jarman, fell in straight sets against the Horned Frogs’ Sutton Mactavish and Ana Vergara. TCU added their fourth point of the dual on court three as Emma Grace Robertson and Jillienne Cangelosi fell in a two-set battle against TCU’s Maria Gonzalez and Anhelina Khmil, 13-21, 24-22. The Horned Frogs closed out the match and took the 5-0 sweep after FAU’s Courtney Moon and Logan Mignerey fell in the Owls’ only three-set contest of the dual, 14-21, 21-19, 7-15, against TCU’s Hailey Brockett and Rochelle Scott.
Scores
1. Sutton Mactavish/Ana Vergara (TCU) def. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) 21-13, 22-20 (finished third)
2. Daniela Alvarez/Kate Privett (TCU) def. Ashleigh Adams/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) 21-13, 21-15 (finished first)
3. Maria Gonzalez/Anhelina Khmil (TCU) def. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) 21-13, 24-22 (finished fourth)
4. Hailey Brockett/Rochelle Scott (TCU) def. Courtney Moon/Logan Mignerey (FAU) 21-14, 19-21, 15-7 (finished fifth)
5. Hailey Hamlett/Keagan Polk (TCU) def. Kendall Mignerey/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) 21-15, 21-19 (finished second)
NO. 15 FAU 3 – NO. 14 FIU 2
The Sandy Owls bounced back in their Surf N’ Turf finale to cap off their weekend. The Sandy Owls pair one of Austin and Jarman dominated FIU’s Rachele Mancinelli and Milica Vukobrat in a 21-13, 21-12 two-setter to give FAU its first point, but FIU took a two-set match of their own on court four as Moon and Logan Mignerey fell 16-21, 16-21 against FIU’s Giada Bianchi and Lisa Luini. The match remained locked at 2-2 after FAU’s pair three of Adams and Honzovicova earned a straight-set, 21-13, 21-14, victory against the Panthers’ Serah O’keefe and Chloe Zacca, but the Sandy Owls’ court five pair, Kate McLaughlin and Alivia Orvieto fell against FIU’s Emily Meyer and Alice Pratesi in two sets, 15-21, 19-21. But the Sandy Owls’ pair two of Robertson and Cangelosi came in clutch, winning a three-setter against FIU’s Zuzanna Bielak and Roberta Ribeiro Soares De Freitas
Scores
1. Ellie Austin/Christine Jarman (FAU) def. Rachele Mancinelli/Milica Vukobrat (FIU) 21-13, 21-12 (finished first)
2. Ashleigh Adams/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) def. Serah O’keefe and Chloe Zacca (FIU) 21-13, 21-14 (finished third)
3. Emma Grace Robertson/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) def. Zuzanna Bielak/Roberta Ribeiro Soares De Freitas (FIU) 18-21, 22-20, 15-13 (finished fifth)
4. Giada Bianchi/Lisa Luini (FIU) def. Courtney Moon/Logan Mignerey (FAU) 21-16, 21-16 (finished second)
5. Emily Meyer and Alice Pratesi (FIU) def. Kate McLaughlin/Alivia Orvieto (FAU) 21-15, 21-19 (finished fourth)
NOTABLES
- FAU’s win over No. 14 FIU marked the Owls’ first ranked win of the season, as well as improving to 1-0 in C-USA play.
- The Sandy Owls’ Robertson and Cangelosi and Adams and Honzovicova both improved to a team-leading 8-4 record as pairs this season.
- Austin and Jarman improved to 7-5 as a pair on the season.
UP NEXT
Following the FIU Surf N’ Turf, the Owls will return to DeLand to compete in Stetson’s second tournament of the season on March 24-25.
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