BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University volleyball is set to host its second home tournament of the season this weekend with the Owls Paradise Classic on Sept. 2 and 3, hosting Alcorn State, Arkansas Pine Bluff, and Stetson to FAU Arena.
The Owls (2-1) open play on Friday, Sept. 2 at 12 p.m. facing the Arkansas Pine Bluff Lady Lions and then close out the opening day of play against the Alcorn State Braves at 7 p.m. FAU will then play their tournament finale against the Stetson Hatters on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 12 p.m. to cap off the weekend.
| DATE |
TIME (ET) |
MATCHUP |
| Sept. 2 |
10 AM |
Stetson vs. Alcorn State |
| Sept. 2 |
12 PM |
FAU vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff |
| Sept. 2 |
4:30 PM |
Arkansas Pine Bluff vs. Stetson |
| Sept. 2 |
7 PM |
FAU vs. Alcorn State |
| Sept. 3 |
9 AM |
Alcorn State vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff |
| Sept. 3 |
12 PM |
FAU vs. Stetson |
- FAU hosts its second home tournament of the year this weekend, welcoming Alcorn, Arkansas Pine Bluff and Stetson to FAU Arena. The Owls went 2-1 to start the season, earning a pair of sweeps over Alabama A&M and Mercer on Friday, before falling in a tough 3-0 match against Lehigh to close the weekend.
- Sophomore Katelynn Robine led the Owls offensively over the weekend, tallying 42 kills, and also recording 20 digs.
- Sophomore newcomer Valeria Rosado made an immediate impact in her first weekend as an Owl, posting a team second-best 35 kills and 48 digs, while also recording five service aces.
- The Owls are fresh off their season-opening FAU Invitational in which FAU finished 2-1 with sweeps over Alabama A&M and Mercer.
- All 15 players on the Owls roster saw play time during the season-opening weekend.
- Sophomores Katelynn Robine and Valeria Rosado earned All-Tournament Team honors after their impressive performances over the weekend.
- Rosado notched the Owls first double-double of the season recording 12 digs and 10 kills against Mercer.
- The Braves opened the 2022 season 0-3 after falling in three straight-set matches against USC Upstate, Stetson, and host Georgia Southern during the Bash in the Boro.
- Friday's match between the Owls and the Braves marks the first all-time meeting between FAU and Alcorn
- Makayla Wardlaw leads the Braves with 20 kills through three games this season, while Mikenzie Young-Mullins and Faith Archibong posted 15 and 11 each, respectively.
- Ramona Pulu is the team's leading setter, having dished out 34 assists through three contests, while Meagan Alfaro leads the Braves with 26 digs.
- Arkansas Pine Bluff enters this weekend's matches with the most experience, having played five matches with a 1-4 record. The Lady Lions fell in three straight-set contests during the Southeast Missouri State Tournament this past weekend, before earning their first win of the season against Arkansas Tech, 3-0, and then falling against Henderson State, 2-3, in a pair of midweek contests.
- Friday's Owls Paradise Classic opener for the Owls marks the first all-time meeting between FAU and Arkansas Pine Bluff
- Zykia Jones and Fernanda Spengler lead the Lady Lions with 48 and 43 kills each, respectively. Jones also leads Arkansas Pine Bluff with four service aces.
- Nikole Akamine leads Arkansas Pine Bluff with 85 assists.
- Defensively, Breana August has recorded a team-leading 75 digs, while Kori Diego has posted a team-high 14 blocks entering this weekend's games.
- The Hatters remain unbeaten heading into the Owls Paradise Classic after winning the Bash in the Boro with a trio of sweeps over USC Upstate, Alcorn State, and host Georgia Southern.
- The Owls hold the all-time series lead over the Hatters, 39-5, including a perfect 23-0 in Boca Raton.
- Offensively, Stetson is led by Elena Djokovic, Leilani Vitale, and Anabelle Standish with 29, 21, and 20 kills, respectively.
- Nyah Molina leads the Hatters in assists with 80 and is tied with Lauren Vargo for the team lead in digs with 30 each, while Alexis Thompson leads Stetson with seven blocks through three games
Next week, FAU volleyball will head north for their first road trip of the season as the Owls compete in the Dolphin Classic against Idaho, Tarleton State, and host Jacksonville.
For updates, follow @FAUVolleyball on
Twitter and
Instagram, or like
FAU Volleyball on Facebook.