Owls Win Five-Set Thriller Against AAC's Second-Ranked Shockers

Friday, October 27

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

14-10,6-5AAC

Wichita State

15-6,9-2AAC

Wichita St.

Fla. Atlantic

Owls Win Five-Set Thriller Against AAC's Second-Ranked Shockers

10/27/2023 10:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Win in Paradise. That's exactly what the Florida Atlantic Volleyball team (14-10, 6-5 AAC) did on Friday, earning a monumental five-set victory over the AAC's second-ranked Wichita State Shockers (15-6, 9-2 AAC) inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

Florida Atlantic 3 – Wichita State 2

Valeria Rosado and Arianna Beckham led the Owls in the thrilling five-set victory. Rosado recorded a new career-best with 24 kills, while also adding eight digs, two assists, and a block. Beckham delivered her second double-double of the season with 19 kills and tying for a team-high with 15 digs. The Owls' offense ran through setter Victoria Hensley, who turned in a career-best 56 assists, while also tying for a team-high three blocks with a career-best three solo in the win.

After battling through an 8-8 tie to open the match, Katelynn Robine's first kill of the match sparked a 4-0 Florida Atlantic run to give the Owls the 12-8 lead. The Owls maintained a three-point advantage through 21-18 after a kill from Kaila Ru. The Shockers then mounted a 5-2 run to even the set at 23-23. However, back-to-back kills from Rosado and Robine closed out the set to give the Owls the opening 25-23 win.

Wichita State jumped out to a 6-2 lead to open the second, but a 4-0 Owls run quickly closed the gap to even things up at six, 6-6. The squads battled back and forth through a 15-15 tie, before a 5-3 Florida Atlantic run, capped off by a Beckham kill, put the Owls up 20-18 late in the second. However, the Shockers closed the set on a 7-1 run to leapfrog the Owls and steal the second 25-21, evening the set at one, 1-1.

The Shockers continued their run into the third, outscoring the Owls 8-2 to open the third. However, the Owls regrouped to mount a comeback, battling the Shockers through a 10-4 stretch to even the set at 12-12 after a kill from Beckham. Romina Cornelio then delivered an ace, which gave the Owls their first lead of the third set at 13-12. The Shockers cut the deficit to just a point at 18-17 before a 3-0 Florida Atlantic run pushed the Owls' lead back out to three at 21-17. Florida Atlantic eventually closed out the set, capped off by a kill from Ru, to win the third 25-22 and retake the match lead, 2-1.

The Owls scored the first two points of the fourth, but Wichita State responded with a 12-5 run to take the lead and hold a 12-7 advantage. Florida Atlantic cut the deficit down to three at 17-14, but the Shockers scored five unanswered to kick their lead back out to eight, 22-14. The Owls outscored the Shockers 4-3 over the remainder of the fourth, but it was too little too late as Wichita State captured the fourth 25-18 to force a final fifth set, 2-2.

The Owls dominated from the start of the fifth, producing an impressive 9-4 run to lead by five. Florida Atlantic matched Wichita State point for point going 4-4 to push the lead to 13-8. Another ace from Cornelio pushed the Owls' lead to six as they held match-point at 14-8. Wichita State got two back to make it 14-10, but it wouldn't be enough as Rosado knocked down her career-high 24th kill to close out the match, 15-10, and secure the five-set victory.

WINNING. IN. PARADISE‼️#WinningInParadise | @valeriarosadof pic.twitter.com/YlDfWOBQzB
— Florida Atlantic Volleyball (@FAUVolleyball) October 28, 2023