Beach Volleyball March 31, 2017 Athletic Communications

Hatters Sweep Two Matches to Open ASUN Play

Jacksonville, Fla. -- The No. 9 Stetson beach volleyball team started ASUN play in fine fashion, sweeping a pair of 5-0 matches over Jacksonville and UNF Friday at the Dolphin Beach courts.

The Hatters won 20 of the 22 sets played on the day to improve to 9-10 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

"Overall, we had a great team effort from 1 through 5," Stetson head coach Kristina Hernandez said. "It was really windy today and I think they all made really good setting and serving adjustments in the second round, which I thought was very helpful. We will take sweeps any day, and we are happy we could start out this way and hopefully do the same tomorrow."

Stetson's 1 and 2 seeds each won a pair of 2-0 matches, but each had to rally late to do so. At the 1 seed, Maggie Skjelbred and Samantha Harris trailed 20-18 to UNF in the first set before coming back to win 22-20.

At the 2 seed, Darby Dunn and Kristin Lind finished on a 6-0 run to erase a 20-16 deficit in the second set vs. Jacksonville.

"A lot of us were down in a few sets, and we worked hard to come back and close out those matches, which I am real happy to see in the first round of conference," Hernandez said. "That was huge for (Kristin and Darby) and a great confidence booster. (They showed) great tenacity in terms of grinding out that final set and working real hard for those points."

At the 3 seed, Emily Harris and Kaylee Anderson dropped the first set to UNF, but rallied for 21-18, 15-12 wins in the second and third sets to take the match 2-1.

Tiffany Creamer and Rachel Noble cruised to a pair of 2-0 wins, securing the Hatters' first points in both matches.

Paired together for the first time this season, Sunniva Helland-Hansen and Julie Varga won twice at the 5 seed, including a 2-1 come-from-behind win over UNF.

"I was glad our 4s and 5s could start out strong for us in the matches today," Hernandez said.

Stetson will play the same two teams Saturday, squaring off against UNF at 12 p.m. and JU at 4 p.m.

vs. Jacksonville (W, 5-0)

1. Samantha Harris/Maggie Skjelbred (STET) def. Mackenzie Swan/Morgan Dees (JU) 21-13, 21-12

2. Kristin Lind/Darby Dunn (STET) def. Cristina Finan/Shelby Babowicz (JU) 21-10, 22-20

3. Emily Carroll/Kaylee Anderson (STET) def. Katie Krawczyk/Jizzyan Gesualdo (JU) 21-8, 21-8

4. Rachel Noble/Tiffany Creamer (STET) def. Megan Widener/Natalie Wehner (JU) 21-10, 21-18

5. Julie Varga/S. Helland-Hansen (STET) def. Vanessa Richards/Tori Reiser (JU) 21-12, 21-16

vs. UNF (W, 5-0)

1. Samantha Harris/Maggie Skjelbred (STET) def. Courtney MILLER/Katarina RAICEVIC (UNF) 22-20, 21-9

2. Darby Dunn/Kristin Lind (STET) def. Kimberly FERGUSON/Carina HOFF (UNF) 21-8, 23-21

3. Emily Carroll/Kaylee Anderson (STET) def. Chaney HOWARD/Lauren GAINER (UNF) 12-21, 21-18, 15-12

4. Tiffany Creamer/Rachel Noble (STET) def. Brittany PASE/Gabby O'CONNELL (UNF) 21-18, 21-18

5. S. Helland-Hansen/Julie Varga (STET) def. Shannon McPHERSON/Nicole DeBOLT (UNF) 18-21, 22-20, 15-12