No. 2 USC Beach Volleyball Ousts Owls

DeLAND, Fla. – The No. 2-ranked USC beach volleyball team (6-1) defeated No. 12 Florida Atlantic (7-3) in the Sun-N-Sand Invitational at Cooper Beach on Saturday, March 12. The Trojans completed the 3-0 victory for their fifth straight dual win; all against top-15 opponents.
 
Due to possible inclement weather, the dual was played to decision with the odd-numbered courts on sand first. The Trojans scored the first point from the No. 5 position where Mollie Ebertin and Sunny Villapando got a 21-12, 21-19 win over Mica Allison and Logan Mignerey. 
 
USC went on top, 2-0, with a win at the No. 3 position where Delaynie Maple and Julia Scoles collected their seventh straight victory by beating Ellie Austin and Julia Honzovicova in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14.
 
In a tightly-contested three-setter, USC's top duo of Tina Graudina and Hailey Harward defeated Erica Brok and Mackenzie Morris, 18-21, 21-18, 15-12, to post the clinching point. With the dual decided, the other three pairs did not play.
 
The Trojans conclude the Stetson Sun-N-Sand Invitational with two duals at Cooper Beach on Sunday, March 13. USC takes on Tampa (6-4) at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT) and then wraps things up with a match against 18th-ranked host Stetson (5-5) at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). The Trojans and Hatters will be shown live on ESPN+.
 
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCBeach.
 
No. 2 USC def. No. 12 Florida Atlantic, 3-0
Stetson Sun-N-Sand Invitational
Cooper Beach Courts · DeLand, Fla.
Saturday, March 12, 2022
RECORDS: USC (6-1), Florida Atlantic (7-3)
1. Tina GRAUDINA/Hailey HARWARD (USC) def. Erica BROK/Mackenzie MORRIS (FAU); 18-21, 21-18, 15-12
2. Megan KRAFT/Sammy SLATER (USC) vs. Courtney MOON/Marketa SVOZILOVA (FAU); DNP
3. Delaynie MAPLE/Julia SCOLES (USC) def. Ellie AUSTIN/Julia HONZOVICOVA (FAU); 21-18, 21-14
4. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) vs. Jillienne CANGELOSI/Christine JARMAN (FAU); DNP
5. Mollie EBERTIN/Sunny VILLAPANDO (USC) def. Mica ALLISON/Logan MIGNEREY (FAU); 21-12, 21-19
Exh. Harper HALLGREN/Paige HAMMONS (USC) vs. Alivia ORVIETO/Lily RICHMAN (FAU); DNP
Order of finish: 5, 3, 1*