LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern beach volleyball team went up against Stevenson University Saturday, taking a 3-2 victory, then went on to face off against Palm Beach State finishing the day with a 4-1 win.
Before the game against Stevenson, Florida Southern took the time to honor players Sarah Crocker and Jackie Schner along with Student Assistant Sophia Rakauskas in a pregame ceremony. Sophia Rakausskas plans on pursuing her MBA at Florida State University; Jackie Schner is also pursuing her MBA here at Florida Southern; and lastly, Sarah Crocker is graduating with degrees in psychology and criminology, with plans to pursue a career in that field.
The Mocs(15-1) faced off first against the Mustangs(12-5), taking the win by a close 3-2. The beach volleyball team then went on to face the Palm Beach Panthers for a 4-1 victory and raising the Mocs to 17-1 for the season.
Florida Southern 3, Stevenson 2
The Mocs faced a close first game, with the Mustangs seizing an early lead from wins on the No.2 and No.4 flight courts. Florida Southern saw wins in courts No.1 and No.5 with all eyes settling on No.3 flight for the deciding point. In court one, we saw duo Emma Winford and Ashli McKenny take the win in a two set victory over the Mustangs 21-16, 21-15. Sarah Crocker and Reagan Carlton fell to the Mustangs 21-18, 21-14 on court No.2. On court No.4, Christina Ramazio and Sydney Melcherwon the first set 21-13, but then fell to the Mustangs in the second and third sets 12-21, 9-15. In flight court five, Hailey Carefoot and Jackie Schner swept the Mustangs in a 21-18, 21-15 court win.
In No.3, duo Hayley St. Martin and Mary Olivia Muti took the first set, lost the second, then rallied and won the third set for a 21-18, 18-21, 15-10 victory. The Mocs took the winning point, taking the match 3-2.
In exhibition play, Chloe Maxwell and Madeline Sanders paired up and battled it out with Stevenson's Makala Thompson and Scarlett Dunn, falling in three sets 21-13, 13-21, and 18-20.
Florida Southern 4, Palm Beach State 1
Florida Southern went on to play against Palm Beach, falling in court one and dominating in the other four. In No.1, Winford and McKenny returned to the sand, losing the first set 18-21 before taking the second 21-17, the win slipped out of their fingers 14-16 in an intense third set. The second court saw Sarah Crocker and Reagan Carlton return, taking a 21-10, 21-18 win over their Panther opponents. Hayley St. Martin and Mary Olivia Muti teamed up again in No.3 for a 21-10, 21-18. Duo Christina Ramazio and Sydney Melcher returned to flight court four, taking both sets 22-20, 21-14.
In No.5, Hailey Carefoot and Jackie Schner took the first set 21-13 then went on to take the second in a close 26-24 win. The Mocs finished out with a 4-1 victory over the Panthers.
In exhibition action, Maxwell and Sanders returned to face Palm Beach States Kayla Fray and Maya Suchy. Maxwell and Sanders fell in three sets, 21-18, 15-21, and 6-15.
Next up in the docket, Florida Southern hits the road to face off against Lake Sumter Community College Monday, March 18 with the first game scheduled for 11 a.m.
