The No. 14-ranked Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team lost both of its matches on March 20 during the first day of North Florida’s tournament at the Cooper Beach Volleyball Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. The Sandy Owls were defeated by No. 15 Stetson with a score of 3-2 and by No. 17 North Florida with a score of 4-1.
These results bring Florida Atlantic’s overall record to 11-7 for the season, while Stetson improved to 16-5 and North Florida moved to 11-6.
In the match against Stetson, Cameron Knifton and Allison Spittal secured an early win for the Sandy Owls on court five, but Stetson responded by tying the match after winning on court four. Klaire VanDeusen and Mia Scanlon regained the lead for Florida Atlantic with a victory on court three, but Stetson ultimately clinched the match after wins on courts one and two.
Against North Florida, the Ospreys took an early lead by winning courts four and five. They secured their overall victory after taking court three as well. Denisse Morgenstern and Shantel Starling provided a point for the Sandy Owls with a win on court one, but North Florida closed out the contest with another win on court two.
Knifton and Spittal finished the day with one win and one loss, tying for a team-leading eleven wins as a pair this season (now holding an 11-6 record). VanDeusen and Scanlon also went 1-1 for the day (9-7 as a pair), as did Morgenstern and Starling (8-9 as a pair).
The Sandy Owls are scheduled to continue play in Jacksonville on Saturday, March 21, facing No. 17 North Florida at 9 a.m., followed by Saint Leo at 11 a.m.
