Owls Close 2023 Season in NIVC Opening Round

Friday, December 1

El Paso, Texas

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

20-13,12-7AAC

UT Arlington

21-10,9-7WAC

Fla. Atlantic

UT Arlington

Photo by: UTEP Athletics

12/1/2023 10:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

EL PASO, Texas – The Florida Atlantic Owls (20-13, 12-7 AAC) remarkable 2023 season came to a close on Friday as the Owls fell in a straight-set battle against the UT Arlington Mavericks (21-10, 9-7 WAC) during the opening round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).

Florida Atlantic 0 – UT Arlington 3

After battling through three ties to open up the match, the two teams were locked at a 10-10 stalemate. The Mavericks then went on a 7-5 run to lead 17-15, however, the Owls answered back, scoring three straight to take their first lead of the set at 18-17. The Mavericks outscored the Owls 8-2 over the remainder of the first, taking the set 25-20.

Kills from Madison Dyer and Kaila Ru gave the Owls an opening 2-0 lead in set two. The Mavericks went on a 3-0 run to take the lead 3-2, but the Owls battled back to retake the advantage, producing a 6-3 run to lead by two, 8-6. However, UT Arlington then went on a 7-0 run to once again take the advantage at 13-8. Staring down an 18-13 deficit, the Owls locked in to outscore the Mavericks 7-1 to battle back in the set and get to 20 first, 20-19. The set remained locked even at 22-22, but UT Arlington scored three unanswered to close out the set, 25-22, taking a 2-0 match advantage.

The Owls battled through a pair of ties before keeping the third set within two at 9-7, however the Mavericks then produced a 6-0 run to take a 15-7 lead. A kill from Romina Cornelio kept the Owls within five at 19-14, however the Owls just couldn't battle back into the set as UT Arlington outscored Florida Atlantic 6-4 to close out the match, 25-18, as the Owls fell in straight sets, 3-0.

Arianna Beckham led the Owls with 11 kills and added four digs and a pair of blocks. Victoria Hensley dished out a team-high 31 assists, adding eight digs and a couple service aces. Isabelle Northam and Cornelio led the Owls' back row with nine digs each, while Cornelio also added six kills in the match.

The Owls close the 2023 season with a 20-13 overall record and a 12-7 mark in their inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference. 2023 brought numerous big moments for the Owls, marking the team's best season since 2018 and the second-best finish for a team under head coach Fernanda Nelson. It also marked the Owls first national postseason appearance since 2005 and the Owls' first-ever berth in the NIVC.

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