Beach Volleyball April 13, 2018 Athletic Communications

Hatters Win Twice to Remain Undefeated in ASUN Play

Stetson now 8-0 with two duals to go

Estero, Fla. -- Competing at the 4 seed for just the fourth time this season, Alexa Richardson and Katinka Krahn defeated UNF's Madilyn McCarty and Nicole DeBolt in straight sets to earn a critical point in Stetson's 3-2 victory over the Ospreys Friday afternoon at Estero Community Park.

The 17th-ranked Hatters (25-8, 8-0 ASUN) went on to defeat Jacksonville 5-0 in the second match of the day to remain undefeated in conference play.

"It was a tough match; I am glad we came out on top," Stetson head coach Kristina Hernandez said following the UNF dual. "I thought Alexa and 'Tink', coming in and playing in a tough conference match and being able to get that win there was huge, and we really needed that. Darby and Sammee were playing very strong and consistently, and Sam and Rachel grinding it out in the third set was huge."

After Richardson and Krahn won 21-14, 21-16 at the 4 seed to give Stetson its first point, UNF tied the match with a three-set win at the 5 seed.

Darby Dunn and Sammee Thomas then captured a 21-19, 21-14 win at the 1 seed to give Stetson a 2-1 lead in the match. The victory was the 50th career dual win for Dunn. However, the match remained close as the 2 and 3 seeds each battled their way to a third set.

In the final frame on court 3, Rachel Noble and Samantha Harris pulled away late for a 15-9 win, clinching the match for the Hatters. The Ospreys won 15-9 on court 2 to record the final point of the contest.

The win put the Hatters alone in first place and dropped UNF (16-8) to 6-1 in league play.

"We have to keep playing tougher and stronger," Hernandez said. "We know teams are going to play us tough. I am glad we survived that one, we have to keep chipping away through the weekend and hopefully compete for that regular season title."

Against Jacksonville, four of the five seeds won in straight sets, including Sunniva Helland-Hansen and Carly Perales at the 2 seed (22-20, 21-11). It was their 40th career win as a pair, tying for second-highest total in program history.

Quinci Birker and Rebecca Ingram also posted a 2-0 win (21-9, 21-12) at the 5 seed.

The Hatters have now won 21 straight matches against ASUN opponents and 39 straight matches against unranked opponents. Dunn, a sophomore, is just the eighth Hatter to record 50 career victories and the first to do so in two seasons. Stetson has hit the 25-win mark for the just the second time in school history.

The Hatters will face UNF and Jacksonville once again on Saturday. With a victory over the Ospreys, Stetson would clinch its fourth straight ASUN regular season title.

Stetson 3, UNF 2

1. Darby Dunn/Sammee Thomas (STET) def. Carina Hoff/Courtney Miller (UNF) 21-19, 21-14

2. Taryn Griffey/Chaney Howard (UNF) def. Carly Perales/Sunniva Helland-Hansen (STET) 21-18, 15-21, 15-9

3. Rachel Noble/Samantha Harris (STET) def. Brittany Pase/Callie Workman (UNF) 21-17, 19-21, 15-9

4. Katinka Krahn/Alexa Richardson (STET) def. Madilyn McCarty/Nicole DeBolt (UNF) 21-14, 21-16

5. Mallory Waggoner/Casey Justice (UNF) def. Rebecca Ingram/Quinci Birker (STET) 21-16, 16-21, 15-11

Ext. Lauren Durham/Caroline Pomet (STET) def. Leah Maloney/Blaire Register (UNF) 23-21, 21-15

Stetson 5, JU 0

1. Sammee Thomas/Darby Dunn (STET) def. Katie Krawczyk/Morgan Dees (JU) 21-14, 21-16

2. Carly Perales/Sunniva Helland-Hansen (STET) def. Mallory Mattingly/Lauren Petersen (JU) 22-20, 21-11

3. Samantha Harris/Rachel Noble (STET) def. Shaylee Befus/Mackenzie Swan (JU) 21-8, 21-16

4. Alexa Richardson/Katinka Krahn (STET) def. Savannah Siegrist/Shelby Babowicz (JU) 17-21, 21-14, 15-12

5. Quinci Birker/Rebecca Ingram (STET) def. Tori Reiser/Bethany Salapek (JU) 21-9, 21-12

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.

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