SOUTH BEACH, Fla. – The 12
th-ranked Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team dominated on Day One of the FIU Surf & Turf Invitational, taking down No. 20 Tulane and No. 13 FIU.
Erica Brok and
Mackenzie Morris, who comprise the reigning AVCA and CCSA Pair of the Week, earned their 63
rd and 64
th career individual wins. They are only two away from tying Gabrielle Dischler's FAU record of 66.
FAU has now won five of its last six games, bringing it to 9-5 on the season. The Owls' win over FIU was their second in the rivalry's history.
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Match One vs. No. 20 Tulane
FAU earned critical two-set wins on Courts One (Brok and Morris), Two (
Kenley Adams and
Ellie Austin) and Five (
Savannah Pesante and
Lily Richman).
Kaila Dorish and
Jillienne Cangelosi played a tightly-contested match on Court Four, falling by a score of 21-15, 15-21, 15-12 in an exciting three-set battle.
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Florida Atlantic 3, Tulane 2
1.
Erica Brok/
Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. Eva Torruella/Kendall Peters (TUL) 21-16, 24-22
2.
Kenley Adams/
Ellie Austin (FAU) def. Allie Olsonoski/Tarin Mergener (TUL) 21-13, 21-14
3. Addison Hermstad/Samantha Mehlman (TUL) def.
Abby Jackson/
Courtney Moon (FAU) 21-14, 21-19
4. Lara Torruella/Avery Arellano (TUL) def.
Kaila Dorish/
Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) 21-15, 15-21, 15-12
5.
Savannah Pesante/
Lily Richman (FAU) def. Rio Frohoff/Ashton Mares (TUL) 21-17, 21-17
Ext. Gabriella Becerra/Maddie Speicher (TUL) def.
Maylin Bouffard/
Logan Mignerey (FAU) 21-19, 21-13
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Match Two vs. No. 13 FIU
The rivalry between FAU and FIU is strong, and their razor-thin matchup reflected that. Four of the five courts went to three sets, with the Owls' Court One (Brok and Morris) and Three (Dorish and Cangelosi) pairs coming out victorious.
Ellie Austin and
Kenley Adams continued their excellent play, sweeping their third consecutive match. Â
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Florida Atlantic 3, FIU 2
1.
Erica Brok/
Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. FRASCA, Federica/RIBEIRO, Roberta (FIU) 18-21, 21-17, 15-12
2.
Ellie Austin/
Kenley Adams (FAU) def. BRANDSTETTER, Sophia/GORMALLY, Shannon (FIU) 21-15, 21-13
3.
Kaila Dorish/
Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) def. BERNIER, Lina/LIPSCOMB, Gina (FIU) 18-21, 21-19, 15-10
4. KALKHOFF, Paige/HUGHES, Abbie (FIU) def.
Abby Jackson/
Courtney Moon (FAU) 21-17, 19-21, 15-13
5. BIANCHI, Giada/MANCINELLI, Rachele (FIU) def.
Savannah Pesante/
Lily Richman (FAU) 21-14, 17-21, 18-16
Ext. SASSER, Sabian/PILLSBURY, Emery (FIU) vs.
Maylin Bouffard/
Logan Mignerey (FAU) 19-21, unfinished
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UP NEXT
The FIU Surf & Turf Invitational continues Saturday in South Beach, Florida. The Owls will battle FGCU at 9:45 a.m. and Tampa at 1:15 p.m.
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