Beach Volleyball April 17, 2021 Athletic Communications

Hatters Defeat FAU 3-2 for Senior Day Win

DeLand, Fla. -- Three times this season, Stetson had battled FAU down to the wire only to fall a few points short.

Kamryn Johnson and Shae Henson made sure the fourth meeting had a different ending.

Playing a winner-take-all third set on Court 2, Johnson and Henson fought their way to a 15-12 victory to lift No. 17 Stetson to a 3-2 win over No. 14 FAU Saturday afternoon at the Cooper Beach Courts.

The victory capped a Senior Day split as Stetson fell 3-2 to No. 13 FIU earlier in the afternoon. It also gives the Hatters (17-12) some momentum heading into next week's ASUN Championship. Stetson now has seven wins against Top 20 opponents this season.

Johnson and Henson battled back from a 1-0 deficit in the match and a 6-4 deficit in the final frame to earn the victory. A 7-2 run midway through the third set proved to be the difference. The two Hatter sophomores dropped the first set 21-17 before winning the second set 21-16.

"Kam and Shae finishing that out and keeping their composure was awesome to see," Stetson head coach Kristina Hernandez said. "It was a nice way to finish the weekend and their Senior Day."

Stetson also got wins from Noelle Weintraub and Brittany McLean at Pair 4, and by Ana Costa and Carly Perales at Pair 1. Weintraub and McLean won 16-21, 21-18, 15-12, and Costa and Perales won 21-12, 21-17.

"I think Brittany and Nicole pulling that match out really helped us," Hernandez said. "Same thing with Carly and Ana. It was really nice to see them finish that match in 2."

Overall, four of the five matches between the Hatters and Owls (16-9) went the distance. All four duals between the two teams this season have been decided by 3-2 scores.

In the FIU dual, the Panthers (23-5) picked up wins at the 1, 3 and 5 seeds to secure the 3-2 victory. For the Hatters, Madison Bobes and Devin Corah picked up a three-set win at Pair 5 (23-21, 11-21, 15-11), and Yasmin Kuck and Gabriella Bramante battled their way to a 2-0 victory (21-18, 21-18) at Pair 2.

In the other match of the day, FIU defeated FAU 4-1.

Stetson honored six student-athletes before the FAU dual: Graduate students Devin Corah, Alicia Harrington and Brittany McLean, and seniors Ana Costa, Yasmin Kuck, and Carly Perales.

The Hatters will now turn their attention to ASUN Championship to be played next weekend in DeLand. Stetson will be going for its fourth tournament title in a row. Brackets and pairings will be announced soon by the ASUN office.

FIU 3, Stetson 2

1. FRASCA, Federica/ROBEIRO, Roberta (FIU) def. Ana Costa/Carly Perales (STET) 20-22, 21-17, 15-13

2. Yasmin Kuck/Gabriella Bramante (STET) def. LIPSCOMB, Gina/ERTELTOVA, Emma (FIU) 21-18, 21-18

3. BERNIER, Lina/DENNEY, Ali (FIU) def. Kamryn Johnson/Shae Henson (STET) 15-21, 21-14, 15-10

4. KALKHOFF, Paige/HUGHES, Abbie (FIU) def. Brittany McLean/Noelle Weintraub (STET) 21-15, 21-13

5. Devin Corah/Madison Bobes (STET) def. MANCINELLI, Raquelle/BIANCHI, Giada (FIU) 23-21, 11-21, 15-11

Ext. DAVIS, Anna/BRANDSTETTER, Sophia (FIU) def. Lauren Domel/Alicia Harrington (STET) 15-21, 23-21, 15-12

Stetson 3, FAU 2

1. Ana Costa/Carly Perales (STET) def. Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris (FAU) 21-12, 21-17

2. Shae Henson/Kamryn Johnson (STET) def. Ellie Austin/Kenley Adams (FAU) 17-21, 21-16, 15-12

3. Jillenne Cangelosi/Kaila Dorish (FAU) def. Yasmin Kuck/Gabriella Bramante (STET) 13-21, 23-21, 15-9

4. Noelle Weintraub/Brittany McLean (STET) def. Savannah Pesante/Maylin Bouffard (FAU) 16-21, 21-18, 15-12

5. Courtney Moon/Abby Jackson (FAU) def. Devin Corah/Madison Bobes (STET) 18-21, 21-19, 15-13

Ext. Oda Stray Homme/Alicia Harrington (STET) def. Lily Richman/Nieya Pelski (FAU) 21-15, 21-19

So proud of these six seniors and everything they've accomplished. We couldn't have done it without you! #Hatters4Life 🤠👏 pic.twitter.com/7gbzUxeV2r
— Stetson Beach (@StetsonBeach) April 18, 2021