Owls fall in straight sets to Middle Tennessee

Friday, October 14

Boca Raton, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Middle Tennessee

10/14/2022 11:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University volleyball team (12-7, 2-5 C-USA) fell in straight-sets against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (13-6, 2-3 C-USA) on Friday night at FAU Arena.

After battling to a 4-4 tie, Middle Tennessee scored four unanswered to take an 8-4 lead. Trailing 22-17, the Owls scored three-straight off a kill from Alicia Hearn and a pair of Blue Raider errors to keep the opening frame within two, 22-20, however Middle Tennessee outscored FAU 3-1 to close out the frame 25-21 and take the opening lead, 1-0.

The Owls opened the second on a 3-1 run after kills from Lauryn Green and Valeria Rosado. FAU extended its lead three after a Blue Raider Service error and an ace from Camryn Vogler to make it 12-9 Owls. A 3-0 run from the Owls that was capped off by a kill from Klara Zarnovicka put FAU up 17-13, but Middle Tennessee responded with five-straight points to take its first lead of the frame, 18-17. The Owls retook the lead on a 3-0 run off a pair of kills from Rosado and a kill from Katelynn Robine, 20-18. But another 5-0 run put Middle Tennessee up 23-20 and the Owls just couldn't rally as they eventually dropped the second 25-22 to trail by two, 2-0.

FAU took the early lead in the third as well, holding a 7-5 advantage after a service ace from Rosado. However, the Blue Raiders responded to retake the 9-7 lead. However, after six ties, Middle Tennessee took a 16-14 lead after a 3-0 scoring run. The Owls rallied to bring things even at 18-18 after a service ace from Noelle Stephens, but a 4-0 run for the Blue Raiders put Middle Tennessee up 22-18, before a 4-3 rally for the Owls would eventually close things out as the Blue Raiders took the third and final set, 25-22.

Stat Leaders

Kills: Klara Zarnovicka - 9
Assists: Noelle Stephens - 26
Digs: Camryn Vogler - 8
Blocks: Alicia Hearn - 4
Aces: Valeria Rosado - 2

Set-by-Set

Set 1: FAU 21, MT 25
Set 2: FAU 22, MT 25
Set 3: FAU 22, MT 25

Match Notes

The Owls produced their best hitting performance of the day in the second set, hitting .333 as a team.
Klara Zarnovicka led the Owls with nine kills and was just one kill shy of tying for the match-high
Alicia Hearn recorded a match-high four blocks
The Owls out-blocked Middle Tennessee 7-4

Up Next

The Owls have a break before hitting the road next weekend as they head to Ruston, Louisiana to take on the LA Tech Lady Techsters on Friday, Oct. 21 for a 7 p.m. ET first serve.

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