FAU falls in five-set heartbreaker against FIU

Friday, October 28

Boca Raton, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

-139,37 CUSA

FIU

-716,46 CUSA

FIU

Fla. Atlantic

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

10/29/2022 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Owls (13-9, 3-7 C-USA) came up short in a five-set heartbreaker against the FIU Panthers (7-16, 4-6 C-USA) on Friday evening at FAU Arena.

The Panthers jumped out to a 7-3 lead to open the contest. The Owls battled and kept the opening frame within two, 19-17, after a Valeria Rosado kill. However, FIU closed the set on a 6-4 run to take the opening set, 25-21.

The Owls outscored FIU to open the second, taking a 6-3 lead after a pair of FIU errors. FIU brought the match back within a point at 8-7, but a 4-0 run that was capped by back-to-back aces from Camryn Vogler and a kill from Katelynn Robine extended the Owls lead out to five, 12-7, and sparked a Panther timeout. FIU got back within four at 16-12, but the Owls dominated the remainder of the set, outscoring the Panthers 9-4 to close out the second, 25-16, and bring the match even at one apiece, 1-1.

After battling through a 9-9 tie, the Owls retook the lead to eventually hold a 13-11 advantage after a Zarnovicka kill. FAU maintained a 15-14 advantage at the media timeout, but an 8-5 FIU run put the Panthers up 22-20 as FAU called its second timeout of the third. FAU looked to rally, as the Owls brought the set within one at 24-23, but a Panther kill closed the set, 25-23, to put the Panthers back up 2-1.

FAU opened the fourth on a 10-6 run to take the early lead. FIU answered to outscore FAU 9-5 and bring the set even at 15-15, however, FAU responded with an impressive 8-1 run to kick the Owls out to their largest lead of the set 23-16. The Owls capitalized on a pair of Panther errors to take set four, 25-19, and force a final fifth set, 2-2.

FIU scored four unanswered to open the fifth and held a five-point advantage as the teams switched sides, 8-3. The Owls locked in to produce an 8-3 that was capped by a kill from Valeria Rosado to bring the fifth even at 11-11. The Owls continued to battle the Panthers, but after a 17-17 tie, FIU connected on back-to-back kills to take the fifth 19-17 and capture the five-set victory.

Stat Leaders

Kills: Klara Zarnovicka - 21
Assists: Noelle Stephens - 61
Digs: Klara Zarnovicka - 22
Blocks: Lauryn Green - 6
Aces: Camryn Vogler - 2

Set-by-Set

Set 1: FAU 21, FIU 25
Set 2: FAU 25, FIU 16
Set 3: FAU 23, FIU 25
Set 4: FAU 25, FIU 19
Set 5: FAU 17, FIU 19

Match Notes

Four Owls recorded double-digit kills
Klara Zarnovicka led the Owls with a season-high 21 kills, while also recording her first double-double of the season, adding a season-best 22 digs
Noelle Stephens registered a new career-best 61 assists, while also posting her sixth double-double of the year with a career-high 16 digs
Valeria Rosado posted her team-leading eighth double-double of the season, recording 14 kills and 13 digs
Lauryn Green tied her season high in kills with 12 and blocks with six
Katelynn Robine rounded out the Owls double-digit scorers with 17 kills

Up Next

FAU closes out the weekend on the road as the Owls head to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Sunday, Oct. 30. First serve is set for 2 p.m. ET.

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