Owls drop AAC opener at North Texas

Wednesday, September 20

Denton, Texas

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

8-6,0-1AAC

North Texas

7-7,1-0AAC

Fla. Atlantic

North Texas

9/20/2023 9:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DENTON, Texas – Florida Atlantic volleyball (8-6, 0-1 AAC) opened up American Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, falling in straight sets in a midweek battle against the North Texas Mean Green (7-7, 1-0 AAC) at the North Texas Volleyball Center.

Florida Atlantic 0 – North Texas 3

The Owls continued to test the North Texas Mean Green, battling point-for-point for the entire match, but fell just short in three sets on Wednesday.

Katelynn Robine and Romina Cornelio led the Owls in the match, tying for a team-high 11 kills, while Cornelio also posted a team-leading six digs against the Mean Green. Arianna Beckham also had a good day, hitting .318 for the Owls with a team third-best eight kills and only tallying one error. Victoria Hensley posted a season-high 40 assists and Lauryn Green recorded a match-high three blocks on the night.

After a match-opening Mean Green error, North Texas scored five unanswered to take a 5-1 lead to start the opening set. A kill from Kaila Ru sparked the Owls to quickly battle back, outscoring the Mean Green 7-2 to regain an 8-7 advantage. The two squads battled through six ties until a Madison Dyer kill brought the Owls within one at 16-17, but a 4-0 North Texas run put the Mean Green up 21-16. Florida Atlantic answered with a 6-4 run of their own, but it was just a little too late as the Mean Green captured the first 25-22 to take the opening 1-0 lead.

The Mean Green scored three unanswered to open the second. The Owls battled back to bring the set even at nine apiece before an ace from Isabelle Northam gave the Owls their first lead of the frame, 10-9. North Texas retook the lead at 11-10, but the Owls would even the score at 12, 13, 14, and 15. The two squads continued to trade blows as the Owls kept inching within a point through a 22-23 North Texas lead, however the Mean Green secured two in a row to close out the set 25-22 and take a two-set advantage.

Much like the preceding two sets, the Owls and Mean Green continued to battle toe-for-toe through a 6-7 North Texas lead, however the Owls produced a 4-2 run to take the 10-9 lead. Following a 14-13 Florida Atlantic lead, North Texas notched five unanswered points to lead 18-14. The Owls battled to bring the set back within two at 19-17, however Florida Atlantic just couldn't find an answer to the Mean Green as they closed out the set with a 6-3 run to capture the third 25-20 and take the three-set victory.

Up Next

Florida Atlantic returns home this weekend for their AAC home-opener, welcome the Temple Owls for back-to-back home contests on Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24. First serve on Saturday is set for 6 p.m. inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

Follow the Owls

For updates, follow @FAUVolleyball on Twitter and Instagram, or like FAU Volleyball on Facebook.