Saturday Sweep Earns #SandVB Share of 3rd ASun Title

Saturday, March 29

Fort Myers, Fla.

2 pm

University of North Florida

Florida Gulf Coast

3/29/2014 6:30:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

By: North Florida Athletics

Mercer Boxscore (pdf)
FGCU Boxscore (pdf)

FT. MYERS, Fla. -- After posting a sweep of Atlantic Sun opponents Mercer and Florida Gulf Coast for the second consecutive day, the North Florida sand volleyball team secured a share of the program's third league title in a row.

The Ospreys (11-3, 6-0 ASun) topped Mercer by a 4-1 score before blanking FGCU 5-0 for a second straight day. The wins not only kept UNF undefeated in league play this season but also extended their current season win streak to seven matches. UNF has also never lost a conference dual match in three seasons of competition.

"We are excited about getting four more conference wins this weekend," said UNF head coach Steve Loeswick. "It was also a great opportunity to compete on the courts and facility that will host the ASun Championships in a few weeks. The team did a wonderful job of staying focused throughout the weekend and is looking forward to getting back on the practice courts to continue process of getting better."

In the match with Mercer, North Florida claimed wins at pairs No. 2-5 in securing the victory. The Osprey's No. 2 duo of Anna Budinska/Cari Whitmire posted a straight set win over Jamie Duffy/Emma Peel (21-10, 21-12) while No. 3 Cameron McGuire/Tanner Garbutt also swept past Zoe Becton/Emily Rochefort (21-13, 21-17). UNF's No.4 pair of Britt Claessens/Julie Trembley continued the straight set theme by edging Caroline Carlton/Demi-Shay Watchorn (21-17, 21-15).

UNF's final win of the match came from the No. 5 tandem of Emily Strack/Allison Shirley over Avery Hoven/Hannah Sorensen, 2-1 (19-21, 21-10, 15-12). The Bears lone win of the match came at the top spot as Tori Penrod/Natalie Braun outlasted Dagnija Medina/Kim Hildreth in a three-setter, 21-14, 20-22, 15-8.

Against FGCU, the Ospreys recorded five straight-set wins in earning the sweep. No. 1 duo Medina/Hildreth beat Kaitlin Holm/Whitney Master 21-19, 21-16, while Budinska/Whitmire topped Karina Mambuca/Vanessa Benke 21-10, 21-14 at No. 2. The win for Budinska/Whitmire marked their ninth straight.

At No. 3, McGuire/Garbutt edged Olivia Mesner/Caroline Jordan, 24-22, 21-17, and Claessens/Trembley swept Shelby Joslin/Elenora Kazarian 21-14, 21-16 at No. 4. The Osprey's recently formed No. 5 pair of Strack/Shirley finished out a perfect 4-0 weekend with the 21-19, 21-13 win over Madi Wilcox/Marlene Moeller.

North Florida will take a break from league play when they visit Miami for the FIU Surf & Turf Invitational on Apr. 4-6. The Ospreys will play dual matches against LSU, FAU, FIU and FGCU while also participating in a flighted pairs competition on the final day of the event. UNF is scheduled to conclude Atlantic Sun play on Apr. 9 at crosstown rival Jacksonville.