Sunday, April 24
Emerson, Ga.
11:00 a.m.
University of North Florida
5
vs
0
No. 3 FGCU
Photo by: ASUN Photos
Beach @OspreyVB Upsets Stetson to Win A-Sun Championship
4/24/2016 5:08:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
UNF blasts past FGCU to move to championship game
EMERSON, Ga. - It came down to the final dual in the final set, but it was North Florida beach volleyball who walked away with the 2016 Atlantic Sun Championship as the Ospreys upset top-seeded Stetson, 3-2, to win their third conference title on Sunday afternoon at the Lake Point Sporting Complex.
The Ospreys shut out FGCU in the opening dual of the day to advance to their fourth championship match in the last five years. North Florida avenged its first round loss to the Eagles with a straight set sweep on each court to advance.
Senior Ambre Desaulnay and freshman Chaney Howard were named the Pair of the Tournament and selected to the All-Tournament team along with Katarina Raicevic and Courtney Miller.
"I couldn't be more proud of this group. The leadership and culture this year has been special," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "We came to work everyday and truly cared about one another. I am pleased to be a part of this team."
In the championship dual, Stetson got on the board first with a 21-12, 21-12 victory at the No. 5 spot. The Ospreys then evened the score with a victory from Desaulnay and all-freshman team selection, Howard, on the No. 4 court, 21-18, 21-17.
With momentum swaying back and forth at each of the three remaining courts, the Hatters' Sara Putt and Vendy Strakova took down the No. 1 UNF duo, 21-15, 21-16 to put Stetson back out in front 2-1.Â
It was then the All-Conference pair of Raicevic and Miller who battled to a 23-21 first set victory before knotting the match at 2-all with a 21-17 victory in the second frame.
After dropping two duals the previous day, Lauren Ford and Kimberly Ferguson came out to battle. The duo fell behind to Emily Carroll and Kaylee Anderson, 21-13 in the opening set, but bounced back to win 21-17 in the second frame. The championship match was left to the third set in the No. 2 spot.
It was as back and forth as it gets with neither pair taking more than a two-point lead. In the end, Ford and Ferguson prevailed 15-13 in the final set to give the Ospreys their third conference title.
Beach volleyball is the NCAA's newest collegiate championship and will consist of eight teams making the bracket. Three teams from the East region and three from the West region will be selected with two at-large spots up for grabs. North Florida will anxiously await Sunday, May 1 when the NCAA.com Selection Show is scheduled for 9 p.m.
Stay tuned to UNFOspreys.com and @OspreyVB on Twitter for information as it becomes available.
UNF 3, Stetson 2
1. Sara Putt/Vendy Strakova (STET) def. KINLAW, Jessalyn/CRAWSHAW, Megan (UNF) 21-15, 21-16
2. FORD, Lauren/FERGUSON, Kimberly (UNF) def. Emily Carroll/Kaylee Anderson (STET) 21-13, 17-21, 15-13
3. RAICEVIC, Katarina/MILLER, Courtney (UNF) def. Tiffany Creamer/Kristin Lind (STET) 23-21, 21-17
4. DESAULNAY, Ambre/HOWARD, Chaney (UNF) def. Madison Akins/Rachel Noble (STET) 21-18, 21-17
5. Jamie Walsh/Alexa Richardson (STET) def. PASE, Brittany/HOFF, Carina (UNF) 21-12, 21-12
The Ospreys shut out FGCU in the opening dual of the day to advance to their fourth championship match in the last five years. North Florida avenged its first round loss to the Eagles with a straight set sweep on each court to advance.
Senior Ambre Desaulnay and freshman Chaney Howard were named the Pair of the Tournament and selected to the All-Tournament team along with Katarina Raicevic and Courtney Miller.
"I couldn't be more proud of this group. The leadership and culture this year has been special," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "We came to work everyday and truly cared about one another. I am pleased to be a part of this team."
In the championship dual, Stetson got on the board first with a 21-12, 21-12 victory at the No. 5 spot. The Ospreys then evened the score with a victory from Desaulnay and all-freshman team selection, Howard, on the No. 4 court, 21-18, 21-17.
With momentum swaying back and forth at each of the three remaining courts, the Hatters' Sara Putt and Vendy Strakova took down the No. 1 UNF duo, 21-15, 21-16 to put Stetson back out in front 2-1.Â
It was then the All-Conference pair of Raicevic and Miller who battled to a 23-21 first set victory before knotting the match at 2-all with a 21-17 victory in the second frame.
After dropping two duals the previous day, Lauren Ford and Kimberly Ferguson came out to battle. The duo fell behind to Emily Carroll and Kaylee Anderson, 21-13 in the opening set, but bounced back to win 21-17 in the second frame. The championship match was left to the third set in the No. 2 spot.
It was as back and forth as it gets with neither pair taking more than a two-point lead. In the end, Ford and Ferguson prevailed 15-13 in the final set to give the Ospreys their third conference title.
Beach volleyball is the NCAA's newest collegiate championship and will consist of eight teams making the bracket. Three teams from the East region and three from the West region will be selected with two at-large spots up for grabs. North Florida will anxiously await Sunday, May 1 when the NCAA.com Selection Show is scheduled for 9 p.m.
Stay tuned to UNFOspreys.com and @OspreyVB on Twitter for information as it becomes available.
UNF 3, Stetson 2
1. Sara Putt/Vendy Strakova (STET) def. KINLAW, Jessalyn/CRAWSHAW, Megan (UNF) 21-15, 21-16
2. FORD, Lauren/FERGUSON, Kimberly (UNF) def. Emily Carroll/Kaylee Anderson (STET) 21-13, 17-21, 15-13
3. RAICEVIC, Katarina/MILLER, Courtney (UNF) def. Tiffany Creamer/Kristin Lind (STET) 23-21, 21-17
4. DESAULNAY, Ambre/HOWARD, Chaney (UNF) def. Madison Akins/Rachel Noble (STET) 21-18, 21-17
5. Jamie Walsh/Alexa Richardson (STET) def. PASE, Brittany/HOFF, Carina (UNF) 21-12, 21-12
Players Mentioned
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