BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team extended its program-best start to 5-0 with a 4-1 win over No. 10 South Carolina, before coming up just short against No. 5 LSU, 3-2, on Friday. Both matches were part of the Burrow Beach Bash. FAU is now 5-1 on the young season.
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Match 1 vs. No. 10 South Carolina
Continuing what has been a trend all season long,
Savannah Pesante and
Kaila Dorish put the Owls on the board first with a 21-15, 21-10 victory on court four.
Jillenne Cangelosi and
Megan McGrath overcame a 25-23 set one loss to give FAU a 2-0 lead.
Amanda Silva and
Nicole Grant sealed the win with a dominating 21-9, 21-12 win at No. 3.
Carly Scarbrough and
Nicole Navarro dropped a pair of nailbiters on court one.
Erica Brok and
Mackenzie Morris claimed the first set at No. 2, lost set two 21-13, then outlasted a stubborn effort from the Gamecock pair to take set three 20-18 and kept their undefeated record intact.
Kristi Tekavec and
Bailey Myott fought hard on the exhibition court, but ultimately fell in straight sets.
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No. 17 Florida Atlantic 4, No. 10 South Carolina 1
1. Shannon Williams/Cadie Bates (SC) def.
Nicole Navarro/Carly Scarborough (FAU) 21-19, 23-21
2.
Erica Brok/
Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. Katie Smith/Lydia Dimke (SC) 22-20, 13-21, 20-18
3.
Amanda Silva/
Nicole Grant (FAU) def. Franky Harrison/Carly Schnieder (SC) 21-9, 21-12
4.
Kaila Dorish/
Savannah Pesante (FAU) def. Avery Davis/Caroline Skaff (SC) 21-15, 21-10
5.
Jillenne Cangelosi/Megan Mcgrath (FAU) def. Quinn Fulton/Hannah Edelman (SC) 23-25, 21-17, 15-10
Ext. Lauryn Gillis/Whitley Ballard (SC) def.
Bailey Myott/
Kristi Tekavec (FAU) 24-22, 21-12
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Match 2 vs. No. 5 LSU
McGrath and Cangelosi suffered their first loss of the season, losing in straight sets at No. 5. Pesante and Dorish booked the first point for the Owls, falling in set one before take the next two to win the match on court four. Grant and Silva rallied from an 11-0 first set deficit to take the frame 22-20, then won the second by an equally narrow 21-19 margin. On court two, Brok and Morris were victorious in set one, but couldn't withstand the LSU rally. That brought the entire match down to court one, where the Tigers won by matching 21-17 tallies.
Johannah Cummines and
Lily Richman split a two-set match on the exhibition court.
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No. 5 LSU 3, No. 17 Florida Atlantic 2
1. Claire Coppola/Kristen Nuss (LSU) def. Carly Scarborough/
Nicole Navarro (FAU) 21-17, 21-17
2. Olivia Powers/Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope (LSU) def.
Mackenzie Morris/
Erica Brok (FAU) 14-21, 21-17, 15-11
3.
Nicole Grant/
Amanda Silva (FAU) def. Toni Rodriguez/Kelli Agnew (LSU) 22-20, 21-19
4.
Savannah Pesante/
Kaila Dorish (FAU) def. Taryn Kloth/Maddie Ligon (LSU) 21-19, 22-24, 18-16
5. Allison Coens/Hunter Domanski (LSU) def.
Jillenne Cangelosi/Megan Mcgrath (FAU) 21-13, 21-17
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FAU Head Coach
Capri Grotowski
"The girls played really well, they had a big win (against South Carolina) in the first match and they showed up for the (LSU) match ready to play. All the sets were pretty close and I was really proud of the way they played against some tough competition today."
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The Owls will face UAB and No. 5 Florida State on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively. Live stats will be provided for both FAU matches will be available at fausports.com.
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