#18 Beach Volleyball Splits Day One at the UNF Beach Invite

Friday, February 21

Jacksonville, Fla.

10:30 a.m.

Florida Atlantic

Mercer

2019 FAU Beach Volleyball vs Texas Christian

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

2/21/2020 7:21:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The 18^th-ranked Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team opened its season with a sweep of Mercer, before falling to No. 10 FIU 3-2 at the UNF Beach Invite on Friday. Two FAU pairs went 2-0 on the day.

Match 1 vs. Mercer
Jillenne Cangelosi and Sam Gott had an impressive straight set win (21-10, 21-13) on court five to give the Owls a quick 1-0 lead. Megan McGrath and Maylin Bouffard soon followed up with a sweep of their own at no. 4 to put FAU up 2-0. Juniors Erica Brok and Mackenzie Morris clinched the match with a 21-9, 21-8 victory at no. 1. The win was the pair's 45^th as a team, extending their school record. Savannah Pesante and Ellie Austin swept court two 21-11, 21-16, making the score 4-0. Courtney Moon and Kaila Dorish lost the first set at no. 3, but took the second 21-16, then prevailed 16-14 in a thrilling third set to complete the sweep for the Owls. On the exhibition court, Bailey Myott and Lily Richman swept the pair from Mercer.

#18 Florida Atlantic 5, Mercer 0
1. Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. Amber Gibson/Emilee Wissmach (MER) 21-9, 21-8
2. Savannah Pesante/Ellie Austin (FAU) def. Ellie Merchant/Olivia Boeve (MER) 21-11, 21-16
3. Courtney Moon/Kaila Dorish (FAU) def. Gracie Garanich/Kacy Ogden (MER) 15-21, 21-16, 16-14
4. Megan McGrath/Maylin Bouffard (FAU) def. Kylie Keeling/Maddie Nunley (MER) 24-22, 21-17
5. Jillenne Cangelosi/Sam Gott (FAU) def. Abigail Moss/Jenna Drummond (MER) 21-10, 21-13
Ext. Bailey Myott/Lily Richman (FAU) def. Emily Leonard/Elena Sanfrey (MER) 21-11, 21-12

Match 2 vs. No. 10 FIU
McGrath and Bouffard were swept on court four, allowing the Panthers to take a 1-0 lead. Gott and Cangelosi evened the score with a 21-19, 21-14 victory at no. 5. Pesante and Austin gave the Owls a 2-1 lead with a 21-17, 21-17 sweep on court two. FIU tied things up, as Morris and Brok were nipped at no. 1, 21-19, 21-18. That brought the entire match down to court three. The Panthers' duo held off Moon and Dorish to take the match.

#10 FIU 3, #18 Florida Atlantic 2
1. Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Mackenzie Morris/Erica Brok (FAU) 21-19, 21-18
2. Savannah Pesante/Ellie Austin (FAU) def. Ali Denney/Emma Ertelova (FIU) 21-17, 21-17
3. Lina Bernier/Gina Lipscomb (FIU) def. Courtney Moon/Kaila Dorish (FAU) 21-17, 21-13
4. Sophia Brandstetter/Nina Petranovic (FIU) def. Megan McGrath/Maylin Bouffard (FAU) 22-20, 21-18
5. Jillenne Cangelosi/Sam Gott (FAU) def. Abigail Moss/Jenna Drummond (FIU) 21-10, 21-13

Quotable
FAU Head Coach Capri Grotowski
"We saw a lot of really good things happen today. There were some big swings, tough serves and really nice vision. There is still a thing or two we can improve on and that will be our focus moving forward."

UP NEXT
The Owls will face no. 17 Georgia State and UNF on Saturday at noon and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Links to live stats for both matches will be available at fausports.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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