Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
-126, 42 CUSA
Charlotte
-513, 25 CUSA
Volleyball Holds Off Pesky Charlotte Squad
10/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BOCA RATON, Fla. â€" Ivone Martinez's second career double-double led the Florida Atlantic University volleyball squad to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-12, 25-23) win over Charlotte on Sunday. With the win, the Owls improve to 12-6 overall and 4-2 in C-USA play, while the 49ers fall to 5-13 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
FAU outhit Charlotte .332 to .151 on the day. Maja Ristic had a match high 18 kills. Brittney Brown was the only other player with double figure kills, putting away 12. Martinez had 33 assists and 15 digs, while Kristina Rankovic had nine kills and 17 digs, just missing a double-double of her own. The Owls took control early in the first set, building a 12-8 lead. The margin was still four, at 18-14, before the 49ers rallied to tie the score at 21 all. A Rankovic kill and service ace put FAU up by two, with a kill by Brown ultimately giving the Owls set one.
FAU had just three attack errors in the second set, while Charlotte recorded a negative hitting percentage as the Owls steamrolled their way to a 25-12 win and two sets to none advantage. Charlotte proved to be stubborn in set number three, coming out of the intermission with renewed enthusiasm. The 49ers led 20-14 late in the frame, when the Owls' seniors stepped up. Brown and Rankovic combined for five of FAU's next eight points, tying the score at 22. Ristic had two kills down the stretch to help clinch the sweep.
The Owls will travel to UAB and Middle Tennessee next weekend. Links to live stats will be available at fausports.com.
