TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 11 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team (2-0) opened their 2024 season in a big way on Friday, earning a pair of Top-20 wins against No. 12 Georgia State (0-1), 4-1, and No. 17 South Carolina (0-2), 5-0.
The Sandy Owls pair of
Alivia Orvieto and
Logan Mignerey earned the Owls first win of the season, earning a comeback victory over Georgia State's Alya Johnson and Ellie Neville, 16-21, 21-12, 16-14. The Panthers evened things up at 1-1 after
Olivia Strandberg and
Mikayla Law-Heese fell in a three-set battle against GSU's Savannah Ebarb and Destiny White, 18-21, 21-19, 8-15. Florida Atlantic retook the lead 2-1 after
Julie Honzovicova and Kate McLauglin picked up the Sandy Owls first straight-set sweep of the day, defeating Elise Saga and Aliisa Vuorinen, 21-17, 21-15.
Ashleigh Adams and
Sloane Woolwine clinched the match for Florida Atlantic, earning another straight-set win on court two against the Panthers' Lila Bordis and Aree Keller, 23-21, 21-12.
Courtney Moon and
Marketa Svozilova closed out the match, picking up the Sandy Owls third straight-set win of the match against Georgia State's Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary, 26-24, 21-15.
Scores
1.
Courtney Moon/
Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Angel Ferary/Bella Ferary (GSU) 26-24, 21-15 (finished fifth)
2.
Ashleigh Adams/
Sloane Woolwine (FAU) def. Lila Bordis/Aree Keller (GSU) 23-21, 21-12 (finished fourth)
3.
Julie Honzovicova/
Kate McLaughlin (FAU) def. Elise Saga/Aliisa Vuorinen (GSU) 21-17, 21-15 (finished third)
4. Savannah Ebarb/Destiny White (GSU) def.
Olivia Strandberg/
Mikayla Law-Heese (FAU) 21-18, 19-21, 15-8 (finished second)
5.
Alivia Orvieto/
Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Alya Johnson/Ellie Neville (GSU) 16-21, 21-12, 16-14 (finished first)
Alivia Orvieto and
Logan Mignerey put the Sandy Owls in front first, capturing a three-set win against South Carolina's Evie Ziffer and Sophie Bengoechea, 18-21, 21-18, 19-17. Oliva Strandberg and
Mikayla Law-Heese bounced back in a big way against the Gamecocks, picking up their first win of the season in a three-set battle against SC's Chae Teal and Jolie Cranford, 20-22, 22-20, 15-10.
Ashleigh Adams and Sloane Woolwin earned their second match-clinching victory of the day, defeating South Carolina's Abigail Lagemann and Peyton Yamagata, 17-21, 21-16, 15-9.
Julie Honzovicova and
Kate McLaughlin extended the Sandy Owls lead to 4-0, capturing a three-set win on court three against SC's Riley Whitesides and Hannah Mackenhausen, 14-21, 22-20, 17-15. The Sandy Owls top pair of
Courtney Moon and
Marketa Svozilova closed out the day and Florida Atlantic's 5-0 sweep of South Carolina, defeating the Gamecock's Skylar Allen and Allison Coens, 21-18, 18-21, 16-14.
1.
Courtney Moon/
Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Skylar Allen/Allison Coens (SC) 21-18, 18-21, 16-14 (finished fifth)
2.
Ashleigh Adams/
Sloane Woolwine (FAU) def. Abigail Lagemann/Peyton Yamagata (SC) 17-21, 21-16, 15-9 (finished third)
3.
Julie Honzovicova/
Kate McLaughlin (FAU) def. Riley Whitesides/Hanna Mackenhausen (SC) 14-21, 22-20, 17-15 (finished fourth)
4.
Olivia Strandberg/
Mikayla Law-Heese (FAU) def. Chase Teal/Jolie Cranford (SC) 20-22, 22-20, 15-10 (finished second)
5.
Alivia Orvieto/
Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Evie Ziffer/Sophie Bengoechea (SC) 18-21, 21-18, 19-17 (finished first)
"We started down in both matches today. Georgia State and South Carolina came out playing at a very high level but our girls were patient. They worked to stay in the matches and were able to pull out some close third sets. I was so impressed with the whole group!"
The Owls continue play in the Tampa Invite tomorrow, facing off against No. 18 Arizona State at 12 p.m., before closing out their opening weekend at 4 p.m. against host Tampa.
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Robes Law Group is the presenting sponsor of Florida Atlantic beach volleyball for the 2024 season.