Owls Fall to WKU in Four Sets

Sunday, November 4

Bowling Green, Ky.

1:00 p.m. ET

Florida Atlantic

-196; 93 CUSA

WKU

-189; 93 CUSA

Florida Atlantic

WKU

2017 FAU Women's Volleyball vs Savannah State

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

11/4/2018 4:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team lost its final road match of the regular season in four sets (25-20, 27-29, 25-20, 26-24) to WKU on Sunday. The Owls are now 19-6 on the year and 9-3 in Conference USA play.

Key Plays
The first set was close from the very beginning, with neither squad able to build a lead larger than two points. The 14^th and final tie of the set came at 18-18,when the Hilltoppers (18-9, 9-3) went on a 7-2 run to earn the victory.

Kori Varney's serving helped FAU take an early 9-4 second set lead. The lead grew to six before WKU rallied to take a 17-16 edge. From there, the momentum changed hands several times. Back-to-back Hilltopper points put them up 24-23, however, that was the first of four set points that the Owls staved off, eventually scoring three points in a row to take the set 29-27 and tie the match at one set each.

FAU fell behind early in the third set, as WKU got out to a 10-5 advantage. The Owls got to within two at 13-11, but the Hilltoppers responded with a 7-1 spurt that effectively ended any hopes of a comeback, winning the frame 25-20.

The two teams battled for control in the fourth set, but neither side was able to gain a firm grasp of the action. A Sigourney Kame kill put FAU ahead 22-21 late in the frame, but WKU countered with a 3-0 run, resulting in two match points for the Hilltoppers. Cailea Gibbs stepped up to put down a kill and team with Sydney Nemtuda on a block to level the score at 24 each. WKU was undeterred and won the next two points to take the set and the match.

Notables

The match was closely contested, with three of the four sets featuring 14 ties.
Sigourney Kame led all players with 18 kills on the afternoon. That gives her 973 for her career, passing Krystena Castro for eighth place in school history.
Ivone Martinez just missed a double-double with 47 assists and nine digs. Martinez has dished out 1,108 assists so far this season, which is the eighth best single-season total in program history.
Abbi Reid collected 12 kills and three total blocks.
Alex Cardona had a team high 10 digs.

Up Next
The Owls wrap up their regular season at home, starting on Thursday, Nov. 8 when they host C-USA leader Rice. The match will start at 7 p.m. Live stats and video of the match will be available at FAUSports.com. In-game updates will be available at Twitter.com/FAUVolleyball. For tickets, call the FAU Ticket Office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS.