DeLand, Fla. - The Stetson University beach volleyball team swept Mercer and FAU with a pair of wins for their opening matches of the 2023 season, Saturday at the Cooper Beach volleyball courts. Head coach Kristina Hernandez earned her 200th win at Stetson in response to the victories. Kristina is in her 10th season at Stetson, a six-time ASUN Conference champion, and four-time ASUN coach of the year.

The Hatters (2-0) are now 1.000 as they beat both teams at home. Stadnik and Gathright led off the first dual with a 2-0 win on court 4. After Weintraub and Sirois demanded both sets on court 5, Henson and Zolnercikova kept up the momentum winning both sets on court 1 by a colossal 10 points. Ferraris and Namike made their statement when they grabbed a pair of wins on court 2. Bramante and Gauthier finished the morning with a pair of wins on court 3.

A hard fought battle against FAU took place in the afternoon. Gathright and Stadnik dropped their first set on court 4 by only two and four points. Weintraub and Sirois clinched a pair of victories on court 5, tying the teams at one a piece. Henson and Zolnercikova kept the energy high one court 1 with a towering pair of wins over the Owls.

Namike and Ferraris came up short on court 2, leveling the score to two each. The last court to finish and the final pair of the day were Gauthier and Bramante. The two claimed the first set by seven, and the energy was high. The Owls battled well and asserted the second set, making the third tie-breaking set a necessity. Both teams surrounded their pairs, and the crowd was roaring. The Hatters declared the third set by six points; a 3-2 win that booked their second victory of the day.

Stetson will face FGCU and UNF Sunday, February 25 at the Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts and look to continue their success.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS (PDF).

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