Hatters Edge North Alabama to Advance to ASUN Semifinal

Stetson rallies on Court 4 to win dual 3-2

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Top-seeded Stetson survived an upset bid from fourth-seeded North Alabama with a 3-2 victory in the second round of the ASUN Championship Saturday morning at the Cooper Beach Volleyball Complex.

The Hatters (20-14) received wins from Pairs 3, 4 and 5 to advance to the winner's bracket semifinal Saturday afternoon. Stetson will face either UNF or FGCU at 3 p.m. with the winner earning a berth to Sunday's championship dual.

For the second straight day, Aleksandra Stadnik and Lauren Della got the Hatters on the board first with a 21-14, 21-11 victory on Court 5. It was their eighth straight win overall, all coming by 2-0 scores.

However, the Lions (20-15) put Stetson on alert early, taking the first set at three of the five courts. On court 1, Paula Klemperer and Taylor Seney earned a 23-21, 21-12 victory over Karin Zolnercikova and Shae Henson to tie the dual 1-1.

On Court 3, Gabriella Bramante and Tori Clement gave Stetson a 2=1 lead with a 21-13, 21-16 straight set win. Clement sealed the victory with a block at the net on match point.

The dual came down to decisive third sets on Courts 2 and 4. On 4, Audrey Gauthier and Noelle Weintraub dropped the opening set 22-20, but bounced back with a 21-13 win in Set 2. In the third set, the Hatter duo rallied from 11-8 and 13-12 deficits to win 15-13 and clinch the dual.

On Court 2, Carolina Ferraris and Anete Namike battled deep into the third set with Mackenzie Martin and Katy Floyd before falling 21-18, 19-21, 19-17.

Stetson reached the 20-win mark for the seventh time in program history. The Hatters have won nine straight and 20 of their last 21 ASUN Championship duals.

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