DELAND, Fla. – The 14
th-ranked Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team played tough against two top-20 teams but fell to No. 17 Stetson and No. 13 FIU in DeLand.
Mackenzie Morris earned her 68
th career win against FIU, moving her to second in program history.
FAU (16-9), despite Saturday's results, still won its season series against Stetson and FIU, 3-1 and 2-1, respectively.
This Stetson-hosted tri-match saw the return of Morris, who hasn't competed since March 27. She and Brok extended their win streak to 10 with their victory over FIU's Court One pair.
Â
Match One vs. No. 13 FIU
Brok and Morris got right back to where they left off, winning their 10th-consecutive match and their first since the FIU Surf and Turf Invitational.
Nieya Pelski and
Lily Richman dominated in the Owls' extra match, winning by a score of 21-17, 21-13.
Ellie Austin and
Kenley Adams pulled off an impressive three-set victory on Court Two, 21-17, 19-21, 15-9.Â
Â
Florida Atlantic 2, FIU 3
1.
Erica Brok/
Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. FRASCA, Federica/RIBEIRO, Roberta (FIU) 22-20, 24-22
2.
Ellie Austin/
Kenley Adams (FAU) def. ERTELTOVA, Emma/LIPSCOMB, Gina (FIU) 21-17, 19-21, 15-9
3. BERNIER, Lina/DENNEY, Ali (FIU) def.
Jillienne Cangelosi/
Kaila Dorish (FAU) 18-21, 23-21, 15-11
4. HUGHES, Abbie/KALKHOFF, Paige (FIU) def.
Savannah Pesante/
Maylin Bouffard (FAU) 21-16, 21-19
5. BIANCHI, Giada/MANCINELLI, Rachele (FIU) def.
Courtney Moon/
Abby Jackson (FAU) 21-18, 21-19
Ext.
Nieya Pelski/
Lily Richman (FAU) def. FORBES, Presley/GORMALLY, Shannon (FIU) 21-17, 21-13
Â
Match Two vs. No. 17 Stetson
Courtney Moon and
Abby Jackson won a tightly-contested three-set battle on Court Five, the pair's seventh win over its past nine matches. Cangelosi and Dorish collected another three-set victory, their fourth win over their last five games. Austin and Adams went to three sets for a second time on the day, losing by only three points in a thrilling game-deciding matchup.
Â
Florida Atlantic 2, Stetson 3
1. Ana Costa/Carly Perales (STET) def.
Erica Brok/
Mackenzie Morris (FAU) 21-12, 21-17
2. Shae Henson/Kamryn Johnson (STET) def.
Ellie Austin/
Kenley Adams (FAU) 17-21, 21-16, 15-12
3.
Jillienne Cangelosi/
Kaila Dorish (FAU) def. Yasmin Kuck/Gabriella Bramante (STET) 13-21, 23-21, 15-9
4. Noelle Weintraub/Brittany McLean (STET) def.
Savannah Pesante/
Maylin Bouffard (FAU) 16-21, 21-18, 15-12
5.
Courtney Moon/
Abby Jackson (FAU) def. Devin Corah/Madison Bobes (STET) 18-21, 21-19, 15-13
Ext. Oda Stray Homme/Alicia Harrington (STET) def.
Lily Richman/
Nieya Pelski (FAU) 21-15, 21-19
QUOTABLE
"We are still waiting for all five of our seeds to play their best," FAU coach
Capri Grotowski said. "We have another chance and great opportunity for the team to do this next weekend at conference. Going to get to work this week at practice and bring our best."
Â
UP NEXT
The Owls will head to the the CCSA Conference Championships, which take place April 23-25 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Â
SOCIAL MEDIA
For complete coverage of FAU beach volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@FAUBeachVB) and Instagram (@FAUbeachvb).
Â