Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
-83,00 CUSA
Miami
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Owls Drop first Match of Sunshine Challenge Cup
9/16/2021 7:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team (8-3) lost their first match of the Sunshine Challenge Cup on Thursday, falling to the Miami Hurricanes in three sets.
Owls' star freshman outside hitter Klara Zarnovicka shone brightest in the losing effort, leading all players with 12 kills. Junior libero Camryn Vogler came through once again on defense and finished the match with 11 digs but they would not be enough to stop the Hurricanes and their high volume attack.
Set 1
To begin the match, both teams came storming out of the gate. The first set was as exciting as any the Owls have played all year in front of the largest crowd they have seen so far. A playoff-like atmosphere pervaded as Alicia Hearn opened the scoring for the Owls for the third straight match before Zarnovicka found recorded the first of her five kills in the opening set to make the score 5-4. The Owls kept pace with the Hurricanes, finding holes in the blocks and finishing kills at the net. The teams traded points and a 12-12 tie was broken open by the Hurricanes who led by three at 15-12. A kill by Nikola Bartecka - playing in her first home game this season after missing time due to injury - kept things close, but Miami was able to squeeze some difficult shots in between a staunch Owl defensive front and took the first set, 25-20.
Set 2
The Owls jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in set 2 before Miami found their footing behind a pair of service aces and tied things back up at 4-4. From there, the Owls matched the Canes stride-for-stride behind furious attacks and a memorable solo block by Christine Jarman as Miami struggled to separate themselves. Eventually though, Miami began to find answers at the net, and FAU fell behind 14-10, and the timeout midway through the set became a critical juncture. It was the Hurricanes who would respond well coming off the break in action, and before long FAU trailed 20-13. The Owls were unable to catch up and the Hurricanes won set 2, 25-15.
Set 3
In the third and final set, the two teams again played each other close in the early goings. The Hurricanes played extremely sound defense and forced FAU into some very uncharacteristic errors, which ended up being one of the difference makers in the match. Jarman did all she could to keep things close for FAU, finishing her night with seven kills and six digs, but the Hurricanes once again proved to be too much, taking set 3, 25-18 and winning the match 3-0.
- Zarnovicka has reached double-digit kills in nine of her first 11 matches as an Owl
- Lauryn Green led FAU with four blocks
- Bartecka finished her second match in a row with a hitting percentage of .500 or better (.500)
- Vogler has put up double-digit digs in eight out of 11 matches so far this season
FAU will play their second and third matches of the Sunshine Challenge Cup tomorrow, Friday. The Owls will face UCF at 11 a.m. and Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m. with both matches taking place at Abessinio Court at FAU Arena.
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