Sand Volleyball Reaches Semis with Win Over FGCU

Saturday, April 20

Jacksonville, Fla.

1 pm

University of North Florida

FGCU

Photo by: Sideline Sports/UNF Athletics

4/20/2013 5:28:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Photo Gallery
Post-Match Interview (Nicole Baran)
Updated Championship Bracket (pdf)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The defending Atlantic Sun Conference tournament champion North Florida sand volleyball team topped Florida Gulf Coast 4-1 Saturday in opening round play of the A-Sun Championship at JU's Dolphin Beach Volleyball Complex.

With the win, the top-seeded Ospreys (14-3) advance to a semifinal matchup against No. 2 seed Stetson on Sunday at 9 a.m. The conference championship features a double-elimination bracket except for the championship match.

UNF raced out to an early lead grabbing victories at both the No. 4 and 5 pairs spots. Sophomore Cameron McGuire and senior Paige Pridgeon posted a 2-0 (21-14, 21-16) win at No. 5 for the first point with junior Britt Claessens and senior Nicole Baran quickly following with a 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) victory of their own at No. 4. It marked the first match played together for Claessens/Baran.

All-Conference duo senior Dagnija Medina and junior Anna Budinska then secured the victory for the Ospreys with a 2-0 (21-10, 21-15) sweep at the top-flight position.

The match saw a pair of contests reach a deciding third game as UNF's No. 3 pairing of seniors Emily Strack and Anna Wagner rallied for a 2-1 (19-21, 21-16, 15-8) victory and the No. 2 tandem of sophomore Cari Whitmire and senior Carolyn Jenkins were edged, 2-1.

Other results from Saturday's opening round of play at the Atlantic Sun Championship included No. 4 FGCU def. No. 5 Mercer (3-2), No. 2 Stetson def. No. 3 Jacksonville (3-2) and JU eliminating Mercer (3-2).

Following the North Florida-Stetson match to begin play on Sunday, Jacksonville faces FGCU in an elimination game at 11 a.m. The JU-FGCU victor then meets the loser between UNF-Stetson at 1 p.m. to advance to the championship match at 3 p.m. against the winner between the Ospreys and Hatters.

Match Results
North Florida 4, Florida Gulf Coast 1
No. 1 - Dagnija Medina/Anna Budinska (UNF) def. Brooke Kohler/Brittany Muse (FGCU) -- 2-0 (21-10/ 21-15)
No. 2 - Kaitlyn Holm/Whitney Masters (FGCU) def. Carolyn Jenkins/Cari Whitmire (UNF) -- 2-1 (19-21/21-16/ 15-10)
No. 3 - Emily Strack/Anna Wagner (UNF) def. Olivia Mesner/Lindsey Childs (FGCU) -- 2-1 (19-21/ 21-16/ 15-8)
No. 4 - Britt Claessens/Nicole Baran (UNF) def. Liga Strautniece/Christine Pinder (FGCU) -- 2-0 (21-15/ 21-15)
No. 5 - Cameron McGuire/Paige Pridgeon (UNF) def. Jill Hopper/Gigi Meyer (FGCU) -- 2-0 (21-14/ 21-16)