No. 1 Seed Florida Atlantic Punches Ticket to CUSA Championship Final

Friday, April 25

Youngsville, La.

11 a.m.

Florida Atlantic

UAB

Kate McLaughlin and Julie Honzovicova vs. UAB

No. 1 Seed Florida Atlantic Punches Ticket to CUSA Championship Final

4/25/2025 9:19:00 PM | No. 15 Women's Beach Volleyball

YOUNGSVILLE, La. – No. 1 Florida Atlantic beach volleyball earned back-to-back 3-1 wins over No. 4 UAB and No. 2 Tulane to punch their ticket to the CUSA Championship final on Saturday. The Sandy Owls will take on the winner of the CUSA consolation semifinals between No. 2 Tulane and No. 3 FIU.

Junior Ashleigh Adams also had a record-setting day, breaking the program record for single-season flight one wins and single-season individual wins.

The Sandy Owls started off slow against UAB, only taking two of their five opening sets, however, they started battling back to earn the 3-1 over the Blazers. Kate McLaughlin and Julie Honzovicova put FAU on the board first, capturing a straight-set sweep against Tulane's No. 2 pair, 21-15, 21-17. Marketa Svozilova and Ashleigh Adams extended the lead to 2-0, battling back after dropping the first set to earn a three-set victory over UAB's top pair, 16-21, 21-10, 15-10. The Blazers cut the Sandy Owls' lead to one, 2-1, taking their first win of the day on court five. However, Olivia Strandberg and Sydney Schroder earn their second dual-clinching tournament win, capturing a 21-23, 21-11, 15-12 comeback win at the No. 4 position to close out the match.

In their semifinal matchup, Florida Atlantic defeated the No. 2-seed Tulane Green Wave to close out day two. Tulane struck first, taking a straight-set win on court three opening a 1-0 lead. Marketa Svozilova and Ashleigh Adams answered back for FAU, sweeping the Green Wave's top pair, 21-18, 21-12, to tie things up 1-1. Kendall Mignerey and Shantel Starling pushed the Sandy Owls in front, 2-1, defeating Tulane's No. 5 pair in three sets, 21-17, 14-21, 15-8. Kate McLaughlin and Julie Honzovicova clinched the dual for the Sandy Owls, rallying to capture a three-set victory on court two, 18-21, 21-18, 15-13, and punch the FAU's ticket to the championship final.

No. 1 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3 – No. 4 UAB 1

Scores
1. Marketa Svozilova/Ashleigh Adams (FAU) def. Olivia Stant/Jasmine Haas (UAB) 16-21, 21-10, 15-10
2. Kate McLaughlin/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) def. Azmabeth Infante/Isabel Day (UAB) 21-15, 21-17
3. Klaire Vandeusen/Shayna Wolf (FAU) vs. Klea Sirois/Lauren Cairo (UAB) 21-19, 18-21 (unf.)
4. Olivia Strandberg/Sydney Schroder (FAU) def. Claudia Stockard/Olivia Chychrun (UAB) 21-23, 21-11, 15-12
5. Addison Atkins/Sarah Smith (UAB) def. Shantel Starling/Kendall Mignerey (FAU) 21-16, 13-21, 15-13

Order of finish: 2, 1, 5, 4

No. 1 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3 – No. 2 TULANE 1

Scores
1. Marketa Svozilova/Ashleigh Adams (FAU) def. Emily Heintzelman/Kenzie Cutler (TUL) 21-18, 21-12
2. Kate McLaughlin/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) def. Skylar Ensign/Molly Trodd (TUL) 18-21, 21-18, 15-13
3. Sam Green/Sara Hall (TUL) def. Klaire Vandeusen/Shayna Wolf (FAU) 21-17, 21-14
4. Olivia Strandberg/Sydney Schroder (FAU) vs. Sam O'Connor/Gigi Gallegos (TUL) 10-21, 23-21, (unf.)
5. Shantel Starling/Kendall Mignerey (FAU) def. Amelia Mullen/Avery Burks (TUL) 21-17, 14-21, 15-8

Order of finish: 3, 1, 5, 2

NOTABLES

Adams broke the program single-season records for flight one wins and individual wins today against UAB and Tulane.
The Sandy Owls are advancing to their second CUSA Championship appearance in the past three seasons.
Adams and Svozilova continue to shine this season, earning two wins to improve to a team-best 24-5 record.
McLaughlin and Honzovicova also won both their matches on Friday, moving to 12-2 as a pair this season.
Schroder and Strandberg picked up their second match-clinching win of the tournament against UAB, moving to a perfect 2-0 as a pair.
Mignerey and Starling earned a win against Tulane, moving to 2-2 as a pair this season.

UP NEXT

The Sandy Owls will await the winner of the CUSA consolation semifinal, between No. 2 Tulane and No. 3 FIU, in the CUSA Championship Final scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.

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