Volleyball Suffers Loss at LIU Classic

Friday, September 30

New Rochelle, N.Y.

1:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Iona

9/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Sept. 30, 2005

Final Stats

In the first day of action at the Courtyard by Marriot LIU Classic, Florida Atlantic University picked up a win but suffered its first loss of the season against tournament host Long Island University 3-1. The team defeated Iona 3-0 in the first match before the Blackbirds became the first team of the season to defeat the Owls. FAU's record stands at 15-1 after the first day of the tournament.

Twelve blocks against Iona propelled FAU to a 31-29, 30-27, 30-26 win over the Gaels. The Owls snuck away with a game one victory after only hitting .051 for the game. Trailing 29-28, Justine Petry posted one of her eight kills to tie the game before a block by Janelle Sarauw gave FAU the lead. Sarauw and Petry each finished with a season-high in blocks. Sarauw finished one block shy of her career-high with eight blocks and Petry shut down the Gaels' offense seven times.

An Iona attacking error gave FAU the first game win.

FAU's offense turned around in the final two games and only committed eight attacking errors. The majority of kills came from Kelly Paiva and Katie Arvidson who combined for 29 for the team's 45 kills. Casey LaRocca distributed the ball and finished with 36 assists.

Paiva completed her 10th double-double of the season by adding 15 digs, while Makra Condill added 14.

Iona (3-11) was led by 20 kills from Miki Hogg and a .586 hitting percentage, while Chelsea White picked up 17 digs.

Despite a .156 hitting percentage and five fewer blocks, Long Island (8-10) managed to upend FAU. The Blackbirds escaped with a two point win in game, 30-28, one before dropping the second game 30-21. LIU held a negative hitting percentage and FAU managed its highest of the contest at .289.

The Blackbirds came out in the third game to regain the momentum by taking a 6-1 lead. Two service aces by Martina Wagner came during the spurt. Wagner finished with four of LIU's eight aces.

Lizelle Jackson finished with a match-high 22 kills for LIU, while four Blackbird players finished with more than 10 digs.

FAU was led by Kelly Paiva and Justine Petry with 19 and 17 kills, respectively. Petry added six blocks while Makra Condill expounded on the defense with 26 digs. Paiva and Krista Klawitter followed with 15 and 11 digs.

On Saturday, FAU will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Northern Colorado at the tournament.