Beach Volleyball | 3/22/2014 12:00:00 AM
DeLAND, Fla. – The FGCU sand volleyball was unable to capture its first Atlantic Sun win as it went 0-4 on the weekend at the Stetson Sand Courts, dropping matches against Jacksonville University and Stetson University. In Saturday's play, the Eagles fell to the Dolphins 4-1 and were swept by Stetson 5-0.
Against JU, a three game win for no. 3 pair Vanessa Benke (Toledo, Brazil/College of Central Florida) and Elenora Kazarian (Tibilisi, Georgia/College of Central Florida) was not enough as the Eagles fell 1-4. Benke/Kazarian earned the win 17-21, 21-11 and 15-11 after falling to JU in a close three-game match on Friday. Facing Stetson today, the duo lost 17-21, 15-21 to go 1-1 on the day as a pair.
At no. 1, Kaitlin Holm (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers HS/Marshall) and junior Whitney Masters (Muncie, Ind./Wapahani HS) were unable to claim a win, as they went 0-2 for the day. Against JU the duo lost -with scores of 7-21 and 15-21. The duo went to three games against Stetson, losing 15-21 in the first, winning 21-11 in the second but lost a very close 13-15 in the third match.
Freshman Caroline Jordan (Orlando, Fla./William R. Boone High School) and senior Karina Mambuca (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast High School) at the no. 2 spot did not see much luck either as they lost to JU 12-21, 6-21. Against Stetson the duo lost a close 21-23 game and could not recover, losing 12-21 in the second game.
The no. 4 pair of Shelby Joslin (Alva, Fla./Evangelical Christian High School) and Olivia Mesner (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River High School) lost 17-21, 16-21 against JU. Losing the first game to Stetson 16-21, the pair battled in the second game and tried to force a third, but fell in a close 20-22 second game.
Eagles Marlene Moeller (Ludinghausen, Germany/Pascal Gymnasium) and Madi Wilcox (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein High School) in the no. 5 spot forced a third game against JU, losing the first 19-21, but then coming back to win the second game 21-19. They then lost a close third game with the final score of 13-15. The duo lost in two games to Stetson 17-21, 15-21. Ashley Baker (Estero, Fla./Estero High School) and Katie Gutmann (Coconut Creek, Fla./Monarch High School) fell to Stetson 16-21, 18-21 to round out the day of play.
The Eagles resume play Tuesday, Mar. 25 in Miami at the Florida International University Pairs Tournament. They will face FIU and Florida Atlantic University.
