JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Sandy Chants closed out the weekend going 1-1 at the North Florida Invitational, as Coastal beach volleyball fell to No. 17 FIU in the morning session and blanked the Mercer Bears 5-0 over the afternoon on Saturday.
 
The Chants finished the weekend at 2-2 overall and improved their record to 6-2 overall on the season.
 
No. 17 FIU 4, Coastal Carolina 1
 
The Sandy Chants suffered only their second loss of the season on Saturday, as CCU fell 4-1 against the nationally-ranked FIU Panthers in their first match of two on day two of the North Florida Invitational.

The No. 17 Panthers would race out to a 3-0 lead when they picked up wins on courts No. 1 (21-17, 21-15), No. 4 (26-24, 21-13), and No. 5 (19-21, 21-14, 15-12).

The Chants would spoil the Panthers' shutout bid, as the No. 3 pair of Ellie Hanford and Natalie Honzovicova defeated the Panthers duo of Emma Erteltova and Ella Erteltova in three sets 21-11, 17-21, 15-7.
 
Coastal Carolina 5, Mercer 0
 
The Chants would earn a sweep of the Mercer Bears in the afternoon session on Saturday by a score of 5-0. The win is the seventh consecutive victory over the Bears.
 
The Chants stormed out to a 4-0 lead when they picked up wins from Madison Allred and Raychel Ehlers at the No. 5 flight defeating the duo of Kathryn Corbett and Jordan Morris 21-13, 21-17.
 
Rounding out the first wave was the duo of Emma Gonzalez and Carli Ginther earning a three-set victory over Jordan Paddock and Reese Hood of Mercer 25-23, 21-9, 15-10 to put the Chants ahead 2-0.
 
The pair of Honzovicova and Hanford at No. 3 would secure the win by dropping the Bears duo of Hana Robertson and Ellie Miller in straight sets 21-7, 21-13, while on court No. 2 the tandem of Sarah Riedell and Madie Lichty defeated the Mercer pair of Nicole O'Mara and Sydney Benson 21-10, 22-20.
 
To secure the sweep the top flight duo of Irena Drobnjak and Martine Kragholm earned a straight-set victory over Olivia Boeve and Gracen Bohling of Mercer By a similar score of 21-15.
 
The Chants will return to action next week when they travel to Georgia State for a Day of Duals slated for Wednesday, March 9.
 
 
Results
 
No. 17 FIU 4, Coastal Carolina 1
 
1. Paige Kalkhoff/Giada Bianchi (FIU) def. Irena Drobnjak/Martine Kragholm (CCU) - 21-17, 21-15
2. Emily Meyer/Rachele Mancinelli (FIU) def. Sarah Riedell/Madie Lichty (CCU) - 21-19, 21-16
3. Natalie Honzovicova/Ellie Hanford (CCU) def. Emma Erteltova/Ella Erteltova (FIU) - 21-11, 17-21, 15-7
4. Zuzanna Bielak/Gina Lipscomb (FIU) def. Emma Gonzalez/Carli Ginther (CCU) - 26-24, 21-13
5. Kendall Mather/Lisa Luini (FIU) def. Madison Allred/Raychel Ehlers (CCU) - 19-21, 21-14, 15-12
Ext. Chloe Zacca/Paola Alvarado (FIU) def. Kalin Eske/Elena Sanchez (CCU) - 18-21, 24-22, 15-13
 
Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3
 
Coastal Carolina 5 , Mercer 0
1. Irena Drobnjak/Martine Kragholm (CCU) def. Olivia Boeve/Gracen Bohling (MER) - 21-15, 21-15
2. Sarah Riedell/Madie Lichty (CCU) def. Nicole O'Mara/Sydney Benson (MER) - 21-10, 22-20
3. Natalie Honzovicova/Ellie Hanford (CCU) def. Hana Robertson/Ellie Miller (MER) - 21-7, 31-13
4. Emma Gonzalez/Carli Ginther (CCU) def. Jordan Paddock/Reese Hood (MER) - 23-25, 21-9, 15-10
5. Madison Allred/Raychel Ehlers(CCU) def. Kathryn Corbett/Jordan Morris (MER) - 21-13, 21-17
Ext. Kalin Eske/Elena Sanchez (CCU) def. Elena Sanfrey/Emily Leonard (MER) - 21-15, 21-15
 
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
 
 
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