Owls Drop Three-Setter at Rice

Sunday, November 9

Houston, Texas

2 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

17-10,8-6American

Rice

17-8,13-1American

Fla. Atlantic

Rice

11/9/2025 6:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

HOUSTON – The Florida Atlantic Volleyball battled tough against conference leader Rice, but the Owls fell in three sets, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 26-24), on the road Sunday in Houston.

The Owls fall to 17-10 overall and 8-6 in American play, while Rice moves to 17-8 on the season and 13-1 in league play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Owls took the early lead 2-0, scoring back-to-back points off a kill from Anna Hartman and a Rice attacking error. Florida Atlantic maintained an advantage through a 10-9 lead after a Rice service error, however, Rice produced a 5-1 run to take its first lead of the set, 14-11. FAU scored three unanswered points off a pair of kills from Olivia Hart and Kayla Richardson, as well as a hitting error, but Rice retook the lead 15-14 at the first set media timeout. Out of the break, another Rice service error and a kill from Hart put the Owls back in front, 16-15. However, a 5-0 Rice run shifted the lead once again, 20-16, forcing a pair of timeouts from the Owls. Rice closed the set on a 5-4 run to take the opening 1-0 lead.

After battling through a 9-9 stalemate to open set two, Rice scored nine unanswered points to break away to an 18-9 advantage. The Owls battled back, producing a 5-1 run to cut the deficit to five, 19-14, forcing Rice to call its first timeout of set two. However, the Owls couldn't muster another run as they traded points throughout the remainder of the set, as Rice eventually took the second set 25-19 for the two-set lead.

FAU took the lead to open set three, holding an 11-9 advantage after a kill from Hartman and a block from Kierstin Bevelle and Libby Ashline. Rice retook the lead 14-12 after a 5-1 run, but FAU responded to take the lead back, eventually holding a 23-21 advantage. The Owls held set point at 24-23, but a service error and two attacking errors closed out the match as Rice took the set 26-24 to claim the three-set match.

STATS & NOTES

Hart and Hartman paced the Owls in the match, recording 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
Emsley Venard dished out a team-high 17 assists across the three sets.
Isabelle Northam led the Owls' back row, recording a team-high 12 digs.
Bevelle paced the Owls' block, tallying a team-best three blocks in the match.

UP NEXT
The Owls return home next week, hosting South Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 12, before closing the regular season against UTSA on Friday, Nov. 14, for Senior Day.

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