Owls Close Red Raider Classic With Four-Set Win Over NAU

Saturday, September 7

Lubbock, Texas

11 a.m.

Florida Atlantic

5-2,0-0AAC

Northern Arizona

2-4,0-0Big Sky

Northern Ariz.

Fla. Atlantic

Photo by: Keira Arimenta

9/7/2024 6:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic volleyball closed out play in the Red Raider Classic on Saturday, earning a four-set win over Northern Arizona, 3-1, in their weekend finale.

Florida Atlantic improves to 5-2, while Northern Arizona drops to 2-4 following this weekend's play.

"I am so proud of our girls," expressed head coach Fernanda Nelson. "Two wins away from home and we played tough against a great Texas Tech team! We have a lot of options, and we had different players stepping up throughout the weekend. We are really excited to get back home and get back to work! This is a fun team to coach, and we just need to keep getting better!"

FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3 – NORTHERN ARIZONA 1

The Owls battled back and forth with the Lumberjacks to open the contest. Northern Arizona held a 10-9 advantage before Florida Atlantic scored five unanswered to retake a 14-10 lead. Florida Atlantic maintained a four-point advantage through a 19-15 lead, but the Owls then broke away off a 4-0 run, capped off by a pair of kills from Valeria Rosado and Madison Dyer to lead by eight, 23-15. Northern Arizona produced a 4-1 run to try and cut into the Owls lead, but a Lumberjack service error closed out the set as the Owls won 25-19 to take the opening set.

Florida Atlantic and Northern Arizona battled through a 7-7 stalemate to open set two, however the Lumberjacks started to break away off a 9-3 run to hold a 16-10 advantage. Northern Arizona continued to maintain a six-point advantage through a 19-13 lead, but the Owls locked in to score six unanswered, closed out by a Rosado ace, to bring things even at 19-19. NAU eventually held set-point at 24-23, but the Owls were not going to give the set up easily, battling back and forth through a 28-27 Lumberjack advantage, but Romina Cornelio and Ru closed out the set for the Owls with a pair of kills and a Lumberjack attack error to capture the 30-28 win and a 2-0 FAU lead.

Northern Arizona opened the third on a 12-5 run. The Lumberjacks maintained a seven-point advantage through an 18-11 NAU lead. The Owls rallied to produce a 9-1 run and bring the set even, 19-19, however, NAU answered right back with four unanswered to kick their lead back out 23-19. The two squads traded sideouts as the Lumberjacks eventually took the 25-21 win to force a fourth.

The Owls took the early 6-4 lead, before NAU answered to retake the lead at 9-7. A kill from Rosado sparked a 4-0 Owl run to push Florida Atlantic back in front 11-9. Northern Arizona would bring things even at 12-12, but the Owls rallied to go on a 10-5 run to lead 22-17. The Lumberjacks got three back to close back within two, 22-20, but it was too little too late as the Owls' closed out the match off a pair of kills from Kayla Richardson and an ace from Victoria Hensley, 25-21, to clinch the four-set win, 3-1.

STATS & NOTES

Brianna Anderson and Valeria Rosado were named to the Red Raider Classic All-Tournament Team
Victoria Hensley posted a new career-best 59 assists
Valeria Rosado tied a season-high 15 kills to lead the Owls, while also posting her fourth double-double of the season with 14 digs
Kayla Richardson posted a season-best 13 kills, while also hitting an impressive .400
Kaila Ru saw the most action this season against the Lumberjacks, tallying a season-high 10 kills and leading the Owls with two blocks
Maggie also recorded double-digit kills with a season-high 10 against the Lumberjacks