Owls tally pair of sweeps to start 2022

Friday, August 26

Boca Raton, Fla.

12 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

-10,00 CUSA

Alabama A&M

0-1,0-0SWAC

Alabama A&M

Fla. Atlantic

8/26/2022 10:24:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University volleyball took the court for the first time this season on Friday, and they did it in impressive fashion, earning a pair of 3-0 sweeps over Alabama A&M and Mercer

FAU 3 – Alabama A&M 0

The Owls opened the first set against Alabama A&M on a 7-2 run and led as much as nine when the Owls held a 14-5 lead over the Bulldogs. FAU eventually took the opening set 25-18 thanks to seven kills from sophomore Valeria Rosado and five kills from sophomore Katelynn Robine.

In set two, the Owls went down by two early but battled back to a 6-6 tie, before breaking away on a 4-1 run off a pair of kills from Nikola Bartecka, as well as kills from Katelynn Robine and Valeria Rosado. Alabama A&M came back within a point to make it 11-10 Owls, but a 5-2 FAU run brought the Owls back out by four, 16-12. The Bulldogs recorded back-to-back kills to come within two, 16-14, but that's as close as things got as the Owls closed the set in impressive fashion, scoring nine-straight to take the second set 25-14.

Another back-and-forth battle in the third saw the Owls hold an 8-7 lead, however FAU locked in to score three-straight off back-to-back kills from Robine and a service ace from Noelle to put the Owls in front 11-7. The Owls then went on an 11-4 run to extend FAU's lead to double digits, 21-11. The Bulldogs tried to turn the tables, outscoring the Owls 7-4 over the final points of the set, but the Owls dominate lead was too much for Alabama A&M to overcome as FAU took the final set 25-18 to complete the sweep.

FAU 3 – Mercer 0

The Owls continued their impressive play into game two against the Mercer Bears. After a back-and-forth battle that saw the Owls holding just a one-point lead at 11-10, the Owls locked in defensively to hold the Bears to just three points over the rest of the set as FAU outscored Mercer 15-3 to take the opening set 25-14 and secure a 1-0 lead.

The Owls opened set two on a 10-5 run, but after a pair of Mercer kills to make it 10-7, FAU scored six-straight to take a nine-point lead a little over halfway through the second set, 16-7. A kill from Noelle Stephens eventually extended the Owl lead to 10 at 19-9, however a late 11-4 Mercer run brought the Bears back within three at 23-20, but a pair of kills from Robine sealed the deal and gave the Owls their second 3-0 sweep and complete the Owls perfect opening day.

Stat Leaders

Game One

Kills: Katelynn Robine - 17
Assists: Noelle Stephens - 39
Digs: Valeria Rosado - 8
Blocks: Valeria Rosado and Lauryn Green - 2
Aces: Valeria Rosado - 5

Game Two

Kills: Valeria Rosado - 11
Assists: Noelle Stephens - 34
Digs: Valeria Rosado - 12
Blocks: Klara Zarnovicka - 4
Aces: Four tied - 2

Set-by-Set

Game One

Set 1: FAU 25, Alabama A&M 18
Set 2: FAU 25, Alabama A&M 14
Set 3: FAU 25, Alabama A&M 18

Game Two

Set 1: FAU 25, Mercer 14
Set 2: FAU 25, Mercer 21
Set 3: FAU 25, Mercer 17

Match Notes

Katelynn Robine nearly tied her career-high with a match-high 17 kills in the season-opener against Alabama A&M
Valeria Rosado posted the Owls first double-double of the season, notching 12 digs and 11 kills against the Mercer Bears
Rosado also posted a match second-best 14 kills against Alabama A&M
Noelle Stephens led the Owls with 39 assists against the Bulldogs and adding 34 in the nightcap against Mercer
Camryn Vogler also posted-double digit digs recording 10 against the Bears
Klara Zarnovicka posted a team-high four blocks against Mercer