Staying Perfect at The Coop - Beach Volleyball Downs FGCU and No. 19 Pepperdine

Friday, March 31

Jacksonville, Fla.

12 p.m.

University of North Florida

FGCU

Madison Espy and Presley Murray against Pepperdine, celebrating their win

Murray and Espy put the icing on one of the best days at The Coop with a dramatic win vs. Pepperdine.

Photo by: Jeremiah Wilson

Staying Perfect at The Coop - Beach Volleyball Downs FGCU and No. 19 Pepperdine

3/31/2023 11:39:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Results (FGCU Match)Results (Pepperdine Match)

Ospreys Improve to 8-0 at Home, Earn First-Ever Sweep of Top-20 Team

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF beach volleyball (15-5) protected The Coop once again, doing so against some of the nation's best as the Ospreys downed long-time rival, (RV) FGCU, before earning the program's first-ever 5-0 sweep against a top-20 team in a Friday-finale win against No. 19 Pepperdine (11-6).

The Ospreys are 8-0 at home on the year and on a four-match winning streak with two more ranked matches on the docket tomorrow at home.

UNF 3, (RV) FGCU 2
Friday, March 31 | The Coop | Jacksonville, Fla.

UNF set the tone with critical first-set wins at the fourth and fifth slots. Mariana Feliciano-Sanchez and Mackenzie Murphy were clutch and resilient, earning wins by three-point and two-point margins to help UNF to an early lead. It was Chantel McMillan and Hayden Wooldridge that finished first, doing much of the same via a 21-19 and 21-16 victory.

Despite not finishing, Anna Mallory and Kelly McConekey won a remarkable second set at the extras slot, edging FGCU, 30-28.

The Eagles garnered a little bit of life with a straight-sets win at the first position. But, Michaela Rezentes and Katie Camp secured a crucial, 22-20, first-set victory at the third slot. That win keyed a dominant second frame as the duo won by 11 and clinched the match for UNF. FGCU (10-10) got one more point on the board for its team total at the second position, but it was too late for the Eagles.

Results
1. Kacie Johnson/Madison Parmelly (FGCU) def. Audrey Brooks/Iris Fletcher (UNF) 21-11, 21-11
2. Shelby Beisner/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) def. Presley Murray/Madison Espy (UNF) 22-20, 21-17
3. Michaela Rezentes/Katie Camp (UNF) def. Dylan Brewer/Nicole De Oliveira (FGCU) 22-20, 21-11
4. M. Feliciano-Sanchez/Mackenzie Murphy (UNF) def. Kaitlyn Luebbers/Lexie Hamilton (FGCU) 21-18, 21-19
5. Chantel McMillan/Hayden Wooldridge (UNF) def. Jacqueline Carpenter/Kristina Gluc (FGCU) 21-19, 21-16
Ext. Anna Mallory/Kelly McConekey (UNF) vs. Lily Felts/Mia Thompson (FGCU) 17-21, 30-28, unfinished

Match Notes
FGCU 10-10
North Florida 14-5
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,1,3,2);

UNF 5, #19 PEPPERDINE 0
Friday, March 31 | The Coop | Jacksonville, Fla.

UNF carried momentum from the earlier match, as well as a lively crowd at The Coop, to impressive play in the Friday finale. North Florida won a trio of three-set matches, while sweeping contests at the third and fourth slots.

North Florida went with the same lineup as the match against FGCU, although Zoe Cahill and Mikayla Benanti saw action at the extras slot, winning in two sets.

Audrey Brooks and Iris Fletcher rebounded in a big way, earning a three-set win against a tough pair in Alexus McLeod and McKenna Thomas. Presley Murray and Madison Espy had a slugfest at the second position, showing poise and prowess, winning in three frames.

McMillan and Wooldridge were the other pair to win in three, earning a victory as part of another sweep of the four and five slots. Like earlier in the day, Rezentes and Camp clinched things, doing so with consecutive 21-11 wins.

Results
1. Audrey Brooks/Iris Fletcher (UNF) def. McLeod, Alexus/Thomas, McKenna (PEP) 21-17, 18-21, 16-14
2. Presley Murray/Madison Espy (UNF) def. Clermont, Kate/Standage, Savannah (PEP) 20-22, 21-15, 15-13
3. Michaela Rezentes/Katie Camp (UNF) def. Pedersen, Gracie/Benoit, Jordan (PEP) 21-11, 21-11
4. M. Feliciano-Sanchez/Mackenzie Murphy (UNF) def. Perez, Gabriella/Campbell, Gracey (PEP) 21-18, 21-17
5. Chantel McMillan/Hayden Wooldridge (UNF) def. Oriskovich, Madison/Briede, Kristine (PEP) 19-21, 21-17, 15-13
Ext. Zoe Cahill/Mikayla Benanti (UNF) def. Erickson, Emi/Curry, Chase (PEP) 21-13, 21-18

Match Notes
Pepperdine 11-6; National ranking #19
North Florida 15-5
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,3,1,2);

Notes

UNF earned its first-ever win against Pepperdine
North Florida earned its second win against a ranked team on the year
The Ospreys improve to 8-0 at home on the season
UNF snapped a four-match losing streak against FGCU. The last time UNF defeated the Eagles was a 3-2 win in the 2021 ASUN Championship Semifinals
North Florida is 3-1 against FGCU in true home matches and 24-12 all-time
UNF is 2-4 against ranked teams
Madison Espy and Presley Murray are 18-2 as a duo
Chantel McMillan and Hayden Wooldridge, along with Mariana Feliciano-Sanchez and Mackenzie Murphy are on a four-match winning streak
It was UNF's eighth sweep of the year
UNF's sweep of Pepperdine was its first-ever 5-0 sweep against a top-20 team

Up Next
UNF gets back to it for two matches tomorrow, featuring a 10 a.m. first serve against No. 1 TCU and a weekend-finale against rival No. 17 Stetson.