Pesante, Bouffard Help Deliver First CCSA Championship

Sunday, April 25

Huntsville, Ala.

1 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Georgia State

4/25/2021 3:03:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The 14^th-ranked Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team captured its first-ever CCSA Championship on Sunday, defeating FIU in the blue bracket's semifinals and Georgia State in the finals.

After splitting its first two games of the CCSA Championships, the Owls (20-10) caught fire by winning four straight with an impressive 15-4 scoring margin. This was the first FAU squad to reach the semifinals since 2017 and the only one to reach the finals.

Maylin Bouffard and Savannah Pesante, who earned consecutive straight-set wins on the day, earned Pair of the Tournament honors.

Match One vs. No. 12 FIU
FAU's Court Four (Bouffard/ Pesante) and Five (Courtney Moon/Abby Jackson) won in straight sets, bringing their squad within one point of victory. Kaila Dorish and Jillienne Cangelosi clinched an Owls victory on Court Three, where they pulled off a back-and-forth three-set victory. The victory over FIU was the Owls' third this season, giving them their first season series win – 3-2 – over the Panthers in program history.

Florida Atlantic 3, FIU 2
1. FRASCA, Federica/RIBEIRO, Roberta (FIU) def. Mackenzie Morris/Erica Brok (FAU) 21-11, 21-14
2. DENNEY, Ali/BERNIER, Lina (FIU) def. Ellie Austin/Kenley Adams (FAU) 21-16, 9-21, 15-13
3. Kaila Dorish/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) def. KALKHOFF, Paige/HUGHES, Abbie (FIU) 11-21, 21-17, 15-7
4. Maylin Bouffard/Savannah Pesante (FAU) def. ERTELTOVA, Emma/LIPSCOMB, Gina (FIU) 21-16, 21-16
5. Courtney Moon/Abby Jackson (FAU) def. BIANCHI, Giada/MANCINELLI, Rachele (FIU) 21-8, 21-16

Match Two vs. No. 19 Georgia State
Mackenzie Morris and Erica Brok earned their first win of the day in exciting fashion, taking down Georgia State's Court One pair in three sets to clinch the championship win. Bouffard and Pesante earned a second consecutive straight-set win on Court Four, while Ellie Austin and Kenley Adams collected another straight-set victory on Court Two. Dorish and Cangelosi were headed to a third set on Court Three, but Brok and Morris clinching the Owls' victory on Court One caused the match to go unfinished.

Florida Atlantic 3, Georgia State 1
1. Mackenzie Morris/Erica Brok (FAU) def. Eden Hawes/Maddy Delmonte (GSUBVB) 15-21, 21-17, 15-12
2. Ellie Austin/Kenley Adams (FAU) def. Novack, Kate/Dorn, Kelly (GSUBVB) 21-18, 21-20
3. Kaila Dorish/Jillienne Cangelosi (FAU) vs. Olivia Stasevich/Mattie Johnson (GSUBVB) unfinished
4. Maylin Bouffard/Savannah Pesante (FAU) def. Gordon, Maddie/McCall, Meagan (GSUBVB) 21-18, 21-19
5. Feray, Bella/Feray, Angel (GSUBVB) def. Courtney Moon/Abby Jackson (FAU) 12-21, 14-21

QUOTABLE
'So proud of this team," said FAU coach Capri Grotowski, who earned her 100th career win and first ever CCSA Championship this season. "We have been waiting all season for all of our five seeds to bring their best and it could not have come at a better time. What a great event with great teams! Go Owls!"

UP NEXT
FAU will hope to earn a spot in the 2021 Beach Volleyball Championship. The NCAA will announce the championshp field next Sunday on NCAA.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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