(7) Georgia State
Cal Poly Beach Volleyball Knocks Down No. 7 Georgia State
3/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
MANHATTAN BEACH – The Cal Poly beach volleyball team split on day one of the East Meets West Invitational, as it took down the No. 7 ranked team in the nation, Georgia State 4-1 and fell to No. 2 Florida State 5-0.
The Mustangs took on No. 7 GSU in their first match of the invitational, where Taylor Gruenewald and Brayden Gruenewald put the first point on the board for Cal Poly after beating Amie Held and Allie Elson at the No. 5 spot 21-13, 21-15.
The Mustangs' No. 1 pair of Emily Sonny and Hannah Hubbard picked up another point after defeating Delaney Rohan and Chelsea Ross after a three set match 11-21, 21-18, 15-13.
Adlee Van Winden and Taylor Nelson clinched the match for the Mustangs, as they beat Brooke Weiner and Natalie Wilson at the No. 2 spot 18-21, 22-20, 15-10
Raeann Greisen and Heather Pembroke pushed LeaAnn Starr and Haley Pa'akaula to three sets at the No. 3 spot, but couldn't hold on, as they fell 22-20, 14-21, 15-13, giving GSU's only point of the match.
Savannah Niemen and Anna Gorman finished the match off on a strong note, as they beat Jessica Fourspring and Olivia Stasevich at the No. 4 spot 20-22, 21-19, 15-10.
Up 1-0 on the day, the Mustangs took on No. 2 Florida State Saturday afternoon. Brayden and Taylor Gruenewald, the Mustangs' No. 5 pair, took on Katie Horton and Molly McBain and fell 21-8, 21-13.
Van Winden and Nelson fell to Vanessa Frejre and Francesca Goncalves 21-14, 21-16, while Greisen and Pembroke fell to Macy Jerger and Victoria Paranagua at the No. 3 spot 21-11, 22-20, clinching the match for FSU.
Niemen and Gorman fell to Nikki Esposito and Hailey Luke 21-14, 21-18, while Sonny and Hubbard pushed Leigh Andrew and Brooke Kuhlman to three sets but fell 18-21, 21-14, 18-16, giving FSU its fifth point.
"I am very proud of the way we performed today in both of our matches," said head coach Todd Rogers. " FSU is the No. 2 team in the nation and they showed it. We are striving to get to that level and have lots of room to grow still and that is encouraging. GSU is the No. 7 team in the country and to beat them 4-1 after losing four out of the six first games was a testament to the will to win this team has."
The Mustangs will continue day two of the East Meets West Invitational Sunday March 12 at Manhattan Beach, where they will take on No. 10 LSU and No. 12 Florida International.
Cal Poly 4, GSU 1
#1: Emily Sonny/Hannah Hubbard (CP) def. Delaney Rohan/Chelsea Ross (GSU) – 11-21, 21-18, 15-13
#2: Adlee Van Winden/Taylor Nelson (CP) def. Brooke Weiner/Natalie Wilson (GSU) – 18-21, 22-20, 15-10
#3: LeaAnn Starr/Haley Pa'akaula (GSU) def. Raeann Greisen/Heather Pembroke (CP) – 22-20, 14-21, 15-13
#4: Savannah Niemen/Anna Gorman (CP) def. Jessica Fourspring/Olivia Stasevich (GSU) – 20-22, 21-19, 15-10
#5: Taylor Gruenwald/Brayden Gruenwald (CP) def. Amie Held/Allie Elson (GSU) – 21-13, 21-15
Order of finish: 5, 1, 2*, 3, 4
FSU 5, Cal Poly 0
#1: Leigh Andrew/Brooke Kuhlman (FSU) def. Emily Sonny/Hannah Hubbard (CP) – 18-21, 21-14, 18-16
#2: Vanessa Freire/Francesca Goncalves (FSU) def. Adlee Van Winden/Taylor Nelson (CP) – 21-14, 21-16
#3: Macy Jerger/Victoria Paranagua (FSU) def. Raeann Greisen/Heather Pembroke (CP) – 21-11, 22-20
#4: Nikki Esposito/Hailey Luke (FSU) def. Savannah Niemen/Anna Gorman (CP) – 21-14, 21-18
#5: Katie Horton/Molly McBain (FSU) def. Taylor Gruenwald/Brayden Gruenwald (CP) – 21-8, 21-13
Order of finish: 5, 2, 3*, 4, 1
