Winning Streak Continues for #SandVB in ASun Opener at Stetson

Tuesday, March 25

DeLand, Fla.

2 pm

University of North Florida

Stetson

Winning Streak Continues for #SandVB in ASun Opener at Stetson

3/25/2014 9:45:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

By: North Florida Athletics

Match 1 Boxscore
Match 2 Boxscore

DeLAND, Fla. -- The North Florida sand volleyball team opened Atlantic Sun Conference play with a hard fought sweep of rival Stetson, claiming a pair of 3-2 match victories on Tuesday.

With the victories, the Ospreys (7-3, 2-0 Atlantic Sun) remained undefeated in Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament play having now won 16 straight duals. UNF is the two-time defending ASun champion.

The losses marked the first of the season for the Hatters (10-2, 4-2), halting their 10-match win streak. Stetson had defeated the Ospreys 3-2 in non-conference tournament play earlier this year.

In the day's opening match, UNF claimed the match after earning wins from the top three pairs. No. 1 tandem Dagnija Medina/Kim Hildreth outlasted SU's pair of Kaley Melville/Kaylee Anderson 2-1 (18-21, 22-20, 15-5). The Osprey's No. 2 pair Anna Budinska/Cari Whitmire also won a three-set battle over Savannah Byl/Catherine Coston 2-1 (20-22, 21-18, 15-10).

North Florida's No. 3 tandem of Cameron McGuire/Tanner Garbutt sealed the match win with a straight set 22-20, 21-18 victory over Rachael Farrell/Julie Bassett.

Stetson's wins at No. 4 and 5 were both in straight sets as UNF's No. 4 pairing of Britt Claessens/Julie Trembley lost 21-12, 21-19 and the No. 5 duo of Emily Strack/Emily Davanzo fell 21-13, 21-16.

In the day's second competition, North Florida's victories came from positions 2-4. Budinska/Whitmire swept the Hatter's pair of Byl/Coston 21-15, 21-15 while McGuire/Garbutt posted their second win of the day over Bassett/Farrell, 2-1 (11-21, 21-14, 15-6).

At No. 4, Claessens/Trembley avenged their opening match loss to Jordann Dierickx/Maren Rygh with an impressive 21-14, 21-18 sweep to secure the match victory for the Ospreys.

Stetson's Melville/Anderson edged Medina/Hildreth, 21-19, 21-19 in the top pairing while Allison Shirley teammed with Strack in a tough 21-14, 21-19 loss at No. 5.

North Florida continues Atlantic Sun play this weekend facing a pair of opponents on Friday and Saturday. The Ospreys will battle Florida Gulf Coast and Mercer in Ft. Myers, Fla.