Caroline Bryant
Editor-in-Chief
The Sandy Mocs (20-10) competed in the inaugural Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Beach Volleyball Championship at Saint Leo University April 11-12.
This also wraps up the first year of the conference’s beach volleyball league, which FSC Athletics says is the “first league sport to award a maiden title since women’s lacrosse in 2015.” SSC league participants included: FSC, St. Leo, University of Tampa, Barry University, Eckerd College and Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Mocs were ranked fourth heading into the tournament.
Day One
The team started off the tournament on the right foot, hailing over Eckerd 3-1. Second Team All-Conference pair Reagan Carlton and Zoe Lowe dominated, winning their first two sets 21-19 and 21-7. Pairs Emma Winford and Ashli McKenny, and Hayley St. Martin and Mary Olivia Muti won 2-1 in three sets, securing the Mocs’ win to move up the bracket. This is the third time they’ve conquered the Tritons this season.
“Our game versus Eckerd was the very first match of the inaugural tournament and the first win was such a surreal feeling,” McKenny said.
All Mocs pairs then fell to Tampa 0-3 at their first match-up of the season. Sydney Melcher and Nicole Eden fell in the first two rounds against SSC Pair of the Tournament Nevaeh Wolfe and Haily Wolfe. St. Martin and Muti also lost 2-0. The loss moved them to the consolation bracket for their final meeting of the day with Barry.
Lowe and Carlton lead victorious once again 21-11, 21-14, earning FSC’s first win against Barry. Second Team All-Conference pair Hailey Carefoot and Isabella Muti followed suit, 21-13, 21-11. St. Martin and M. Muti sealed the deal 21-11, 21-13 to advance to day two of the consolation bracket.
Day Two
On Saturday morning, the team faced Palm Beach Atlantic on the courts.
Lowe and Carlton remained undefeated during the tournament, winning 21-19, 21-16 to make it 2-1. All other pairs fell to the Sailfish, with St. Martin and M. Muti, and Melcher and Eden defeated 2-0. Winford and McKenny did not finish, but won set two of their match 21-18, handing PBA a 3-1 win. PBA later secured the championship match against Tampa, but lost 3-0.
Florida Southern returns to the courts in Gulf Shores, Alabama to compete in the AVCA Small College Championship April 17-19.
“Our goal for the AVCA Small College Championship is to show up and win over some bg teams,” McKenny said. “We expect to come in mentally and physically ready, and all of us are 100% ready to make history.”
This paper was sent to print before the results of the Small College Championship were announced.
