DELAND, Fla. – No. 4 Coastal Carolina fell 3-2 in a close match to No. 3 Florida Gulf Coast Friday afternoon. The loss was the second of the tournament for Coastal and eliminated the Chanticleers from the 2019 ASUN Beach Volleyball Championship.
The match began just prior to 1 p.m., but faced a lengthy weather delay after FGCU claimed a 2-1 lead. Play did not resume until just after 5 p.m., when FGCU won one of the final two points up for grabs to seal the match.
FGCU opened the match's scoring with a 21-18, 21-18 win at No. 3. Coastal responded with a 21-16, 21-17 win by
Anett Nemeth and
Kalin Eske at No. 5 to tie the match.
At No. 1, FGCU's pairing of Amanda Carroll and Kirstine Garder defeated
Sydney Alvis and
Leah Hardeman in three sets just before the match was halted due to weather.
When play resumed, Coastal tied the match up at No. 4 with
Aleksandra Djuric and
Shelby Ladewig prevailing in three sets, 11-21, 21-19, 15-11.
The match was decided at No. 2, where Katherine Puisis and Karissa Rhoades pulled out a 21-6, 21-14 win over
Lucy Campbell and
Anaiah Boyer.
Coastal ends its season at 21-11. FGCU advances to play No. 2 North Florida with the winner moving on to Saturday's conference title match against No. 1 Stetson.
FGCU 3, Coastal Carolina 2
1. Amanda Carroll/Kirstine Garder (FGCU) def. Alvis, Sydney/Hardeman, Leah (CCU) 14-21, 24-22, 15-8
2. Katherine Puisis/Karissa Rhoades (FGCU) def. Boyer, Anaiah/Campbell, Lucy (CCU) 21-6, 21-14
3. Snowy Burnam/Kayla Whetstone (FGCU) def. Federico, Kate/Gauthier, Tanner (CCU) 21-18, 21-18
4. Djuric, Aleksandra/Ladewig, Shelby (CCU) def. Emma Hansen/Giovanna Borgiotti (FGCU) 11-21, 21-19, 15-11
5. Nemeth, Anett/Eske, Kalin (CCU) def. Cortney VanLiew/Alayna Ryan (FGCU) 21-16, 21-17
Match Notes:
Coastal Carolina 21-11
FGCU 17-10
Order of finish: Doubles (3,5,1,4,2);
ASUN Beach Volleyball Championship