AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beach volleyball team closed out the regular season on a high note, going into the day facing a pair of nationally ranked programs and coming out with the split day after dropping 5-0 to #6 Cal Poly before toppling #17 North Florida 4-1 Friday.
The victory over the top-20 Ospreys marks the Islanders' (19-12) first ranked win of the season and third ever in program history. It is the second time they have defeated the No. 17 nationally ranked team, with the program's first ever ranked win came against #17 Arizona in 2023.
The Islanders have registered a top-20 win in each of the last three seasons.
"We've learned from our wins and more importantly, from our losses these last few weeks," said head coach
Gayle Stammer. "The changes we've made are paying off and we are peaking at the right time! North Florida is a strong program, and I am really proud of how we played them today!"
The ones pairing of
Tess Spaansen/
Madison Morrow took a straight-set victory from the top court, defeating North Florida's ones 21-15, 22-20. Also only taking two sets for a point against Ospreys was the duo of
Bryce Ranney/
Jade Bennett at flight five, winning 21-19, 21-14.
Courts three and four took three sets but still came out on top.
Elizabeth Cortez/
Kela Moreno from the third flight came back for an 18-21, 21-19, 15-7 victory.
Ashlyn Rough/
Maria Duda Fernandes de Melo then outlasted North Florida at the No. 4 spot 21-17, 10-21, 15-9.
The momentum comes at the perfect time, as the Islanders head into the Southland Conference Championships next week to try and defend their crown. They have won the last three tournaments for a trip to the NCAAs each time and are looking for a fourth consecutive trip to the postseason.
The Islanders will get started as the No. 2 seed Wednesday at 9 a.m. against No. 7 McNeese.
Match Results // #6 Cal Poly 5, A&M-Corpus Christi 0
1. Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) def.
Tess Spaansen/
Madison Morrow (TAMUCC) 21-18, 21-17
2. Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter(CP) def. Kristen Bobay/
Millie Olsson (TAMUCC) 21-16, 21-19
3. Quinn Perry/Lindsey Sparks (CP) def. Duda De Melo/
Ashlyn Rough (TAMUCC) 21-14, 22-20
4. Ella Connor/Madi Nichols (CP) def.
Elizabeth Cortez/
Kela Moreno (TAMUCC) 21-14, 21-17
5. Katie Celnenger/Elisa Lenahan (CP) def.
Jade Bennett/
Bryce Ranney (TAMUCC) 24-26, 21-13, 15-12
6. (exh) Maddy Byrne/Julia Soeller (CP) def. Stonya Stollar/
Veronique Magnan (TAMUCC) 21-7, 21-11
Match Results // A&M-Corpus Christi 4, #17 North Florida 1
1.
Madison Morrow/
Tess Spaansen (TAMUCC) def. Kenzie Murphy/Presley Murray (UNF) 21-15, 22-20
2. Cameron Humphries/Taylor Pierce (UNF) def.
Kristin Bobay/
Millie Olsson (TAMUCC) 21-14, 14-21, 16-14
3.
Elizabeth Cortez/
Kela Moreno (TAMUCC) def. Madison Espy/Mariana Feliciano Sanchez (UNF) 18-21, 21-19, 15-7
4. Duda de Melo/
Ashlyn Rough (TAMUCC) def. Andrea Dasliva/Hayden Woodridge (UNF) 21-17, 10-21, 15-9
5.
Jade Bennett/
Bryce Ranney (TAMUCC) def. Eden Anderson/Sophia Notaro (UNF) 21-19, 21-14
6. (exh)
Veronique Magnan/
Cimone Woodard (TAMUCC) vs. Molly Marsh/Natalie Villalon (UNF) 21-16, 21-19
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