Owls Stumble in Match 2 vs. ODU

Saturday, September 25

Boca Raton, Fla.

1 PM

Florida Atlantic

-96,11 CUSA

Old Dominion

-86,11 CUSA

Old Dominion

Fla. Atlantic

9/25/2021 12:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team (9-6) took their first loss of the Conference USA season on Saturday in a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Old Dominion Monarchs.

FAU outside hitter Christine Jarman led the team in kills for the second match in a row, finishing with 11 while tracking down a season-best 15 digs.

How It Was Decided

Set 1
The Owls came in fresh from a big win in their previous match, and picked up right where they left off, jumping out to a 9-3 lead, which included a 7-0 run. Aniya Harvey made the first of her six blocks, which matched a season-high. Though ODU slowly began climbing back into the set, the Owls defense kept them at bay until late in the set when the Owls led 19-15. There, a kill by Jarman put the Monarchs back against the wall. The teams fought their way to deuce, before Harvey's kill had the Owls on set point at 24-23. But the Monarchs would respond, and following a tie at deuce at 25, a pair of aces by from Anna Burkhardt allowed ODU to steal the set, 27-25.

Set 2
FAU needed a response in the second set, and got things started with an ace by Zarnovicka, The teams would fight back and forth as Halle Olson got involved with a pair of kills to take a 14-12 lead before Sonte Stewart also made herself a factor with the first of her five kills on the day. The Owls were finally able to separate and take control of the the set after Lauryn Green put FAU up 22-17 and Jarman followed with a pair of kills to take set two, 25-19.

Set 3
In the third set, ODU took a big lead early, and presented the Owls with a difficult hurdle at 8-2. Stewart showed up right on time to keep the set within reach, and drew the Owls closer with a kill at 10-5. Though Harvey would follow with two kills in quick succession, it would not be enough to hold off the Monarchs in the third set, which they took, 25-12.

Set 4
The crucial fourth set began with a show-and-awe campaign of attacks by the Owls. Jarman, Stewart and Green all got involved as FAU jumped out to a 5-1 lead. But a well-taken timeout by ODU slowed the Owls momentum, and before long, the Monarchs found themselves trailing by just one at 10-9. The teams would trade kills after long rallies with FAU appearing to take control on the set as they ran the score up to 16-12. But ODU found their stride to take five of the next six points before Jarman and Harvey combined for a left-side block to make it 19-18 in favor of the Monarchs. That was the last answer the Owls would have as ODU was able to close the set out at 25-21, winning the match.

Of Note

Harvey finished with a season-high 10 kills and six blocks and led the team in points (13.5)
Green raised her hitting percentage on the season to .392 and has hit better than .440 in three straight matches
Stewart hit .364 for the match, her highest hitting percentage this year
Young put up 24 assists, the most for her since the first match of the season against Stony Brook (27)

Up Next

FAU will travel to Charlotte to take on the 49ers for a pair of matches on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2. First serve on Friday is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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