Owls claim pair of sweeps to open Owls Paradise Classic

Friday, September 2

Boca Raton, Fla.

12 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

-31,00 CUSA

Arkansas Pine Bluff

1-5,0-0SWAC

Ark.-Pine Bluff

Fla. Atlantic

9/2/2022 10:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University volleyball dominated Arkansas Pine Bluff and Alcorn State in a pair of 3-0 sweeps to open play in the Owls Paradise Classic on Friday at FAU Arena.

"We played really well today," head coach Fernanda Nelson said. "Our offense is getting faster, and we were able to use our middles very efficiently. Now we will rest and get ready for a tough match tomorrow against Stetson."

FAU 3 – Arkansas Pine Bluff 0

After falling down 4-3 in the opening set, a Valeria Rosado kill sparked a 5-0 Owls run to take an 8-4 lead and FAU never looked back. The Lady Lions brought the set back within two at 8-6, but the Owls outscored Arkansas Pine Bluff 17-11 to secure the 25-17 opening set victory.

The Lady Lions really put up a fight in the second set. FAU and Arkansas Pine Bluff battled through six ties to a 7-7 stalemate to open up the second frame. Kills from Klara Zarnovicka and Arianna Beckham, and a Lady Lion service error pushed the Owls to a 10-8 advantage, but Arkansas Pine Bluff responded with a pair of points to bring things back even at 10-10. Arkansas Pine Bluff retook the lead 14-12, but as was the trend of the second frame, the Owls evened up the match at 14-14 on a Zarnovicka kill, before the Lady Lions would even the set one more time at 15-15. However, the Owls locked in over the final 13 points of the set as they outscored the Lady Lions 10-3, capped by a Rosado kill to close out the set and take a 2-0 advantage after two.

FAU struck first in the third set to take a quick 4-1 lead over Arkansas Pine Bluff early. Arkansas Pine Bluff rallied to bring the set within one, 4-3, but a Lady Lion service error sparked a 5-0 Owl run, capped by a Lauryn Green kill to give FAU a 9-3 advantage. The Owls continued to battle the Lady Lions as they traded points, however the Owls maintained their advantage as they outscored the Lady Lions 16-15 throughout the rest of the third to close the third frame, 25-18, and complete the sweep.

FAU 3 – Alcorn State 0

The Owls battled Alcorn State to open the second contest of the day, battling to a 10-10 stalemate, before a Sonte Stewart service ace and a Noelle Stephens kill put the Owls up 12-10 in the first. A pair of Owl service errors brought the Braves within one, 13-12, however the Owls closed the set on a 12-4 run to take the early advantage, 1-0.

The two teams continued to trade points to open the second frame battling through six ties to a 7-7 stalemate. A Zarnovicka kill and a Brave attack error put the Owls up 9-7, but a 4-0 Alcorn State run put the Braves in front 11-9. The Owls evened the match at 11-11 off a Zimova kill and battled back-and-forth once again to a 13-13 tie. However, a Braves attack error sparked five-straight Owl points to put FAU back in front 18-13, and the Owls maintained the momentum to outscore Alcorn State 7-5 to close the second and take the 2-0 advantage, 25-18.

The Owls opened the set on a 3-2 run to take the opening lead, before breaking away off four-straight points to lead 7-2. The Braves got two back to make it 7-4, but a 7-0 run for the Owls pushed FAU to a double-digit 14-4 lead in set three. Alcorn State just couldn't find an answer to the Owls as FAU closed the final set on an 11-7 run to capture the 25-11 victory and seal the Owls second sweep of the day.

Stat Leaders

FAU vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff

Kills: Klara Zarnovicka - 11
Assists: Noelle Stephens - 32
Digs: Camryn Vogler - 9
Blocks: Lauryn Green - 3
Aces: Camryn Vogler - 2

FAU vs. Alcorn State

Kills: Klara Zarnovicka & Valeria Rosado - 13
Assists: Noelle Stephens - 30
Digs: Stephanie Young & Camryn Vogler - 8
Blocks: Three tied - 1
Aces: Three tied - 2

Set-by-Set

FAU vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff

Set 1: FAU 25, Arkansas Pine Bluff 17
Set 2: FAU 25, Arkansas Pine Bluff 18
Set 3: FAU 25, Arkansas Pine Bluff 18

FAU vs. Alcorn State

Set 1: FAU 25, Alcorn State 16
Set 2: FAU 25, Alcorn State 18
Set 3: FAU 25, Alcorn State 11

Match Notes

Coach Nelson boosted her all-time record to 143-127 with the Owls pair of sweeps today
Klara Zarnovicka posted her first two double-digit kill matches of the season leading the Owls in both contests with 11 and 13, respectively.
Noelle Stephens led the Owls in assists, dishing out 32 assists against Arkansas Pine Bluff and 30 against Alcorn State
Camryn Vogler led the Owls backrow, posting a team-high nine digs against Arkansas Pine Bluff and tied for the team-lead with eight against Alcorn State

Up Next

FAU will close out the Owls Paradise Classic tomorrow as they face the Stetson Hatters for the tournament championship at 12 p.m. inside FAU Arena.