Volleyball Makes History With Thrilling Five-Set Win Over (RV) Rice

Thursday, November 8

Boca Raton, Fla.

7:00 p.m. ET

Florida Atlantic

-206, 103 CUSA

Rice

-215. 121 CUSA

RICE

Florida Atlantic

2017 FAU Volleyball vs Western Kentucky group celebratio

Photo by: JC Ridley

Volleyball Makes History With Thrilling Five-Set Win Over (RV) Rice

11/8/2018 11:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team withstood a furious comeback attempt to defeat (RV) Rice in five sets (25-21, 26-24, 15-25, 13-25, 15-12) on Thursday. The victory was FAU's 14^th in a row at home, setting a school record, and snapped Rice's 15-match winning streak. FAU is now 20-6 on the year and 10-3 in C-USA play. It is the first 20-win season for FAU since 2005.

Quick Hits

· Rice got out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set and was able to maintain the cushion most of the way, but FAU finished the frame on a 13-5 run to take set one. Five different FAU players recorded kills during the rally

· There were 11 ties and five lead changes in set number two as momentum alternated sides of the net. The 11th and final tie came at 24-24 when an Abbi Reid solo block and Rice attack error put FAU ahead 2-0

· Set number three began with another battle for control, and the two sets of Owls found themselves tied at 10. Rice reeled off five of the next six points and FAU was unable to recover, falling 25-15

· A Rice serving run helped create a 14-7 cushion in the fourth set, which proved insurmountable for FAU, as the Texas version of the Owls forced a fifth set

· Early in the decisive frame, it seemed as though Rice was going to ride its momentum all the way to a come-from-behind victory, taking a 6-3 lead. However, FAU answered with a 10-3 spurt to take a 13-9 edge. Three straight Rice points narrowed the margin to one, but a Massiel Matos kill and Rice attack error clinched the win for FAU

· FAU has now won four five-set matches in a row, dating back to last season

· FAU reached 20 wins for the sixth time in school history, the third time since joining Division I and the first since 2005

· Sigourney Kame led FAU with 16 kills, followed by Abbi Reid with 14 and Cailea Gibbs and Massiel Matos with 12 each.

· Reid also had six total blocks and Gibbs chipped in with five

· Sydney Nemtuda had a team high 15 digs, her ninth double-digit dig match of the year

· Kori Varney posted 12 digs, while Alex Cardona added 11

· Ivone Martinez dished out 57 assists and collected seven digs. She has 1,165 assists so far this season, which is the third best single-season total in program history.

Quotable
FAU Head Coach Fernanda Nelson
"It was a very important win for us. We have been talking a lot about playing tough and staying strong mentally in the big games, and we did that. We were able to make more plays and we didn't fold. I'm very happy with how mentally tough we played."

Looking Ahead

The Owls finish the regular season at home against Middle Tennessee on Sunday, Nov. 11. Match time is noon. Sunday is Senior Day and the three FAU seniors will be recognized prior to their final home match. Live stats and live video will be available at fausports.com. Live in-game updates will be available at twitter.com/FAUVolleyball.