Spartans Wrap Up Annual Sandy Spartan Invitational
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa beach volleyball team battled hard on day two of The Sandy Spartan Invitational, falling 3-2 to No. 16 Florida Atlantic and 4-1 to No. 17 Florida International.
The 1's kicked off Tampa's second day at the Sandy Spartan Invitational as Elizabeth Price and Angel Williams faced FAU's top duo; despite their best efforts, they were overpowered in both sets—falling 21-13 and 21-17. The momentum shifted in the 2's when Spartan siblings, Nevaeh Wolfe and Hailey Wolfe, took charge. They dominated the first set 21-12, dropped a tight second set 19-21, but rebounded in a decisive third set, 15-11, to earn Tampa's second point of the day. In the 3's, Madelynn Hokanson and Hailey Peterson battled hard against FAU but, their determined effort fell in straight sets. Fortunatley, the 4's came out strong when when Sammie Ostrander and Meghan Schreck delivered a dominating performance. After a razor-close first set, 21-19, the duo secured a 21-14 win to restore some momentum for our squad. In the decisive 5's, duo Anna Bayes and Brooke Green stepped onto the sand to take on FAU but, after a tense showdown, were unable to close the gap, succumbing in straight sets, 21-15, 21-15.
Hoping to rebound on the day, as well as the tournament, against No. 17 Florida International, the 1's saw Price and Williams, who were coming off narrow losses earlier in the day, aim to secure a crucial point for Tampa. Despite a determined effort, Price and Williams were unable to break through the strong defensive play and fell 21-14, 21-17. The 2's Wolfe pairing delivered Tampa's lone victory of the match in an intense three-set battle. After dropping the first set 21-16, the twins rallied back to dominate the second set 21-8. In the deciding third set, they edged out FIU to win 17-15, becoming the first Spartans to acquire their second win of the season. In the 3's, Hokanson, hoping to leave a positive mark of her first collegiate tournament, and Peterson, hoping to leave her first tournament as a sophomore with a win, faced off against a strong Florida International pairing. They battled fiercely throughout the match and kept the score close but ultimately were unsuccessful. The 4's saw Ostrander and Green partnered for the first time this season. They put up a valiant effort but fell 21-18, 21-14. In the 5's, Madison Hankins made her 2025 season debut after transitioning from Tampa's indoor volleyball team, where she competed in 24 matches in the fall of 2023. Teamed up with Cook, they showed promise, pushing both sets to the wire but narrowly losing 21-19, 21-16, concluding Tampa's final match of the day and the Sandy Spartan Invitational.
Florida Atlantic University 3, Tampa 2
1. Ashleigh Adams/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Elizabeth Price/Angel Williams (UT) 21-13, 21-17
2. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. Klaire VanDeusen/Julie Honzovicova (FAU) 21-12, 19-21, 15-11
3. Kate McLaughlin/Kendall Mignerey (FAU) def. Madelynn Hokanson/Hailey Peterson (UT) 21-16, 21-17
4. Sammie Ostrander/Meghan Schreck (UT) def. Kate Stoughton/Olivia Strandberg (FAU) 21-19, 21-14
5. Shantel Starling/Sydney Schroder (FAU) def. Anna Bayes/Brooke Green (UT) 21-15, 21-15
Florida International 4, Tampa 1
1. Maria Sanchez/Ella Gray (FIU) def. Elizabeth Price/Angel Williams (UT) 21-14, 21-17
2. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. Arianna Franklin/Sofie Vogel (FIU) 16-21, 21-8, 17-15
3. Julia Panko/Ola Chudzik (FIU) def. Madelynn Hokanson/Hailey Peterson (UT) 21-18, 21-15
4. Katarina Drodz/Brianna Luoma (FIU) def. Sammie Ostrander/Brooke Green (UT) 21-18, 21-14
5. Zoe Cahill/Hailey Heflin (FIU) def. Madison Hankins/Lauren Cook (UT) 21-19, 21-16
Up Next: The Spartans remain at home next week as they host Florida Gulf Coast and familiar conference foe, Eckerd, on Friday, February 28, at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, respectively.