No. 1 USC Beach Volleyball Flies by Florida Atlantic to Advance at NCAA Championship

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The top-seeded and No. 1-ranked USC beach volleyball team (34-1) claimed a 3-0 win over eighth-seeded No. 12 Florida Atlantic (23-11) in the 2022 NCAA Championship Winner's Bracket Quarterfinals at Gulf Shores Beach on Friday, May 6.
 
The win propels the Women of Troy into the Winner's Bracket Semifinal where they will face either fourth-seeded Loyola Marymount (30-7) or fifth-seeded Florida State (29-9) in a time still to be determined due to a weather delay at the site of the championship.
 
The Trojans extend their winning streak to 33 duals—the second longest streak in program history—and improve to 4-0 all-time against Florida Atlantic. USC also improves to 20-4 all-time in duals at the NCAA Championship and to 27-8 in matches played in Gulf Shores. The win marks the 70th-career victory for head coach Dain Blanton.
 
USC claimed first sets on all but one court and clinched the dual with wins at courts three, five, and two. At the No. 3 position, Delaynie Maple and Julia Scolesimproved to 34-1 on the season and won their sixth straight match when they defeated Ellie Austin and Julie Honzovicova, 21-19, 21-8, to put the first point of the dual on the board.
 
Moments later, USC went in front, 2-0, with a win from the No. 5 pair of Mollie Ebertin and Sunny Villapando. The Trojan duo took down Mica Allison and Abby Jackson, 21-16, 21-12, for their 20th win of the season (20-5 overall).
 
After facing a deficit of as many as four points in their first set, Megan Kraft and Sammy Slater stormed back to get a 21-19 win over Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova at the No. 2 position. The Trojans went on to get a 21-16 win capped off by a service ace from Kraft to deliver the clinching point in the dual. It's the 25th straight win for Kraft-Slater as the pair improves to 25-0 on the season.
 
With the dual decided, play was suspended at the top court and at the No. 4 position. At court four, Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse were on the verge of collecting their 60th career victory but were stopped with a 21-19, 18-12 score against Jillienne Cangelosi and Christine Jarman. At the No. 1 position, Tina Graudina and Hailey Harward dropped their first set against Erica Brok and Mackenzie Morris, 21-18, but earned the split with a 22-20 win in the second set when play was halted.
 
All duals at the NCAA Championship will be shown on either ESPNU (Friday, May 6) or ESPN2 (Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8). Live streams of all courts can be found at WatchESPN.com.
 
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.
 
[1] No. 1 USC def. [8] No. 12 Florida Atlantic, 3-0
NCAA Championship · Winner's Bracket Quarterfinal
Gulf Shores Beach · Gulf Shores, Ala.
Friday, May 6, 2022
RECORDS: USC (34-1), Florida Atlantic (23-11)
1. Tina GRAUDINA/Hailey HARWARD (USC) vs. Erica BROK/Mackenzie MORRIS (FAU); 18-21, 22-20 DNF
2. Megan KRAFT/Sammy SLATER (USC) def. Courtney MOON/Marketa SVOZILOVA (FAU); 21-19, 21-16
3. Delaynie MAPLE/Julia SCOLES (USC) def. Ellie AUSTIN/Julie HONZOVICOVA (FAU); 21-19, 21-8
4. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) vs. Jillienne CANGELOSI/Christine JARMAN (FAU); 21-19, 18-12 DNF
5. Mollie EBERTIN/Sunny VILLAPANDO (USC) def. Mica ALLISON/Abby JACKSON (FAU); 21-16, 21-12
Order of finish: 3, 5, 2*