Beach Volleyball March 24, 2021 Athletic Communications

Late Comeback Lifts Hatters to Doubleheader Sweep Over FGCU

DeLand, Fla. -- Yasmin Kuck and Gabriella Bramante rallied from an 11-6 third-set deficit to win 17-15 on court 2, lifting No. 16 Stetson to a dramatic 3-2 victory over No. 20 FGCU Wednesday afternoon at the Cooper Beach Courts.

The Hatters (12-6) also won 5-0 earlier in the day to complete a doubleheader sweep over the Eagles (7-5).

Carly Perales became Stetson's all-time leader in dual match victories with her 97th career win in the first match. She surpassed her former teammate Rachel Noble (96 wins), who played from 2016-19.

After seeing Stetson win at all five pairs in the first dual, the Hatters and Eagles locked up in seesaw battle in game 2. Brittany McLean and Noelle Weintraub gave the Hatters a 1-0 lead on court 4, but FGCU tied the score with a 2-0 win on court 5.

In the second wave, Kamryn Johnson and Shae Henson grabbed a 2-0 win on court 3 as Stetson regained a 2-1 advantage. The Eagles answered again with a 2-0 win on court 1, tying the dual at 2-2.

That made court 2 the deciding court, and after Bramante and Kuck won 21-7 in the first set, Kayla Whetstone and Kacie Johnson fought back with a 23-21 win in set 2.

The Eagle pair got off to a good start in the decisive frame, taking leads of 7-4 and 11-6. Kuck and Bramante chipped away, eventually pulling even at 13-13. The teams then traded side outs as FGCU owned match point at 14-13 and 15-14, but the Hatters pulled even each time.

At 15-15, Bramante's kill gave Stetson its first match point, and an FGCU error sealed the victory for the Hatters.

It was Stetson's third and fourth wins against ranked opponents this season.

The Hatters will face four more ranked opponents this weekend at the Gamecock Grand Slam in Columbia, S.C. Stetson will face No. 1 Florida State, No. 15 South Carolina, No. 9 TCU and No. 17 Georgia State on Saturday and Sunday.

Stetson 5, FGCU 0
1. Carly Perales/Ana Costa (STET) def. Giovanna Borgiotti/Kirstine Garder (FGCU) 21-10, 21-18
2. Yasmin Kuck/Gabriella Bramante (STET) def. Kayla Whetstone/Kacie Johnson (FGCU) 15-21, 21-13, 15-8
3. Kamryn Johnson/Shae Henson (STET) def. Maddison Parmelly/Lexie Hamilton (FGCU) 21-14, 21-11
4. Brittany McLean/Noelle Weintraub (STET) def. Emma Hansen/Madie Lichty (FGCU) 21-14, 17-21, 15-11
5. Aleksandra Stadnik/Madison Bobes (STET) def. Jenna Banz/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) 21-19, 21-15
Ex. Devin Corah/Lauren Della (STET) def. Oda Stray Homme/Alicia Harrington (STET) 22-20, 19-21, 17-15

Stetson 3, FGCU 2
1. Giovanna Borgiotti/Kirstine Garder (FGCU) def. Carly Perales/Ana Costa (STET) 27-25, 21-13
2. Yasmin Kuck/Gabriella Bramante (STET) def. Kayla Whetstone/Kacie Johnson (FGCU) 21-7, 21-23, 17-15
3. Kamryn Johnson/Shae Henson (STET) def. Maddison Parmelly/Lexie Hamilton (FGCU) 21-16, 21-14
4. Brittany McLean/Noelle Weintraub (STET) def. Emma Hansen/Madie Lichty (FGCU) 21-17, 21-16
5. Trinity Rosales/Elizabeth Richmond (FGCU) def. Aleksandra Stadnik/Madison Bobes (STET) 21-17, 21-18
Ex. Shahar Rosner/Lauren Della (STET) def. Lauren Domel/Devin Corah (STET) 21-19, 12-21, 15-11

We have a new all-time wins leader. Congratulations Carly Perales! #GoHatters pic.twitter.com/fxm5YVGR8K
— Stetson Beach (@StetsonBeach) March 24, 2021

HATTERS WIN! No. 16 Stetson rallies for a 3-2 victory over No. 20 FGCU to complete the double dual sweep. #GoHatters pic.twitter.com/R0VoFSeQu2
— Stetson Beach (@StetsonBeach) March 24, 2021