Volleyball Splits Day Two of ASU Sheraton Invitational

Saturday, September 15

Tempe, Ariz.

12:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

Villanova

9/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Sept. 15, 2012

Match 1 Score
Match 2 Score

TEMPE, AZ - The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team split its two matches at the ASU Sheraton Invitational on Saturday.

The Owls (3-6) beat Villanova in four sets (25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16) in their first match of the day. A Cintia Nightingale serving run in the first set put FAU ahead 8-2. The Wildcats cut the lead to two points on six different occasions, but could never fully close the gap and lost 25-22. In the second set, it was Villanova's turn to get out to a sizable lead. However, unlike the first set, FAU was able to rally back from an 18-14 deficit to take a 21-18 lead. The Owls let the set get away, committing four attack errors down the stretch allowing Villanova to snatch the set 25-23 and tie the match at one set each.

The third was the most evenly contested set of the match, featuring nine ties and four lead changes. After a Sara Stoll kill tied the score at 20, Villanova committed back-to-back errors, followed by a Chandler Hatton service ace. An Alessia Pizzocheri gave the Owls three set points and the Wildcats fought off the first two before another Pizzocheri kill ended the set. FAU trailed 11-10 in the fourth set before Jelena Jovanovic asserted herself. The freshman had a kill to tie the set, then served the Owls to eight more points and an 19-11 lead. The Owls rode that momentum to a 25-16 win. Thacilli Pereira had a career high 21 digs in the win. The victory was the Owls' first this season in less than five sets.

FAU lost to host Arizona State (25-11, 25-13, 25-20) in its second match of the day. The Sun Devils took the first two sets by comfortable margins. In the third, the Owls were competitive throughout the set, but eventually fell to ASU. Jovanovic was named to the All-Tournament Team.

FAU will open both its home and Sun Belt schedules against Arkansas State on Friday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. Free live video streaming of the match will be available at www.fausports.com. Tickets are also available at www.fausports.com or by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS.