No. 11 Florida Atlantic Drops Battles Against No. 18 ASU & Tampa

Saturday, February 24

Tampa, Fla.

12 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Arizona State

No. 11 Florida Atlantic Drops Battles Against No. 18 ASU & Tampa

2/24/2024 9:58:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 11 Florida Atlantic Owls (2-2) had a tough day on Saturday, falling in a pair of contests against No. 18 Arizona State (4-0), 3-2, and Tampa (2-2), 3-2.

NO. 11 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2 – NO. 18 ARIZONA STATE 3

The Sandy Owls took the opening lead, capturing a straight-set victory at court four with Olivia Strandberg and Mikayla Law-Heese defeating Ava Kirunchyk and Ava Haughy, 21-16, 21-17. Arizona State evened the match at the 5s with Alivia Orvieto and Logan Mignerey falling in three to the Sun Devils' Kendall Whitmarsh and Ardi Nieves, 10-21, 23-25. ASU then took a 2-1 match lead on court three after Julie Honzovicova and Kate McLaughlin fell against Arizona State's Lexi Sweeney and Taryn Ames, 15-21, 19-21. The Sandy Owls brought the match even at two after Ashleigh Adams and Sloane Woolwin rallied to capture a three-setter over ASU's Arden Besecker and Ava Williamson, 18-21, 21-15, 15-13. However, the Sandy Owls just couldn't close things out on court one as Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova fell in a hard-fought three-set battle at the 1s against Arizona State's Anya Pemberton and Daniella Kensinger.

Scores
1. Anya Pemberton/Daniella Kensinger (ASU) def. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) 26-28, 21-17, 17-15 (finished fifth)
2. Ashleigh Adams/Sloane Woolwine (FAU) def. Arden Besecker/Ava Williamson (ASU) 18-21, 21-15, 15-13 (finished fourth)
3. Lexi Sweeney/Taryn Ames (ASU) def. Julie Honzovicova/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) 21-15, 21-19 (finished third)
4. Olivia Strandberg/Mikayla Law-Heese (FAU) def. Ava Kirunchyk/Ava Haughy (ASU) 21-16, 21-17 (finished first)
5. Kendall Whitmarsh/Ardi Nieves (ASU) def. Alivia Orvieto/Logan Mignerey (FAU) 21-10, 25-23 (finished second)

NO. 11 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2 – TAMPA 3

Alivia Orvieto and Logan Mignerey struck first for the Owls, giving Florida Atlantic a 1-0 lead after securing a three-set victory against Tampa's Anna Bayes and Cassidy Ehrie, 21-10, 18-21, 15-8. The Spartans evened things up on court four, as Olivia Strandberg and Mikayla Law-Heese dropped a two-setter against Tampa's Keely Hamilton and Madison Brunick, 20-22, 16-21. UT then took the lead 2-1 after winning their second match on court two. Ashleigh Adams and Sloane Woolwine fell in a two-set battle against Tampa's Nevaeh Wolf and Hailey Wolfe, 15-21, 18-21. The Spartans clinched the match on court three as Julie Honzovicova and Kate McLaughlin dropped a three-set match against Tampa's Teona Treskounov and Angel Williams, 21-11, 22-24, 8-15. The Sandy Owls got one more back at the 1s as Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova earned a three-set win against the Spartans' Olivia Margolies and Payton Brunick, 21-16, 18-21, 15-10.

1. Courtney Moon/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Olivia Margolies/Payton Brunick (UT) 21-16, 18-21, 15-10 (finished fifth)
2. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. Ashleigh Adams/Sloane Woolwine (FAU) 21-15, 21-18 (finished third)
3. Teona Treskounov/Angel Williams (UT) def. Julie Honzovicova/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) 11-21, 24-22, 15-8 (finished fourth)
4. Keely Hamilton/Madison Brunick (UT) def. Olivia Strandberg/Mikayla Law-Heese (FAU) 22-20, 21-16 (finished second)
5. Alivia Orvieto/Logan Mignerey (FAU) def. Anna Bayes/Cassidy Ehrie (UT) 21-10, 18-21, 15-8 (finished first)

NOTABLES

With their three-set win against Tampa, Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova became the second-winningest pair in program history with 32 career wins
Ashleigh Adams and Sloane Woolwine, as well as Moon and Svozilova moved to 3-1 on the year

HEAD COACH STEVE GROTOWSKI QUOTABLE

"Tough day for the Sandy Owls. Despite losing both matches, we had chances to win but were unable to covert. The only way to be better in those moments is to be there. I'm looking forward to practice this week. There are plenty of things to be excited about for this group!"

UP NEXT

The Sandy Owls will head to Birmingham, Alabama next weekend to compete in the UAB Beach Classic on March 2-3.

FOLLOW THE SANDY OWLS

For updates, follow @FAUBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram, or like FAU Beach Volleyball on Facebook.

Robes Law Group is the presenting sponsor of Florida Atlantic beach volleyball for the 2024 season.