Owls Open Season with Florida Atlantic Invitational

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic volleyball is set to kick off its 2025 season this weekend, hosting the Florida Atlantic Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29, and Saturday, Aug. 30, welcoming Kent State, Texas Tech, and Western Carolina.

The Owls will open the season on Friday, Aug. 29 with a 12 p.m. first serve against Kent State. Florida Atlantic will close out its season-opening day with a 7 p.m. first serve against Texas Tech, before closing out the weekend against Western Carolina on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. All matches will be broadcast on FAUSports.com.

SCOUTING FLORIDA ATLANTIC

Florida Atlantic opens its 2025 season this weekend, hosting the Florida Atlantic Invitational.
The Owls will face Kent State and Texas Tech on Friday, before closing out the weekend against Western Carolina on Saturday.
Florida Atlantic is just coming off an impressive 2024 season, which saw the Owls earn their first American Championship final appearance and the program's first conference championship appearance since 2005. The Owls finished the season 18-13, including a pair of five-set wins over No. 3-seed East Carolina, 3-2, and No. 2-seed Rice, 3-2, in the American Conference Tournament.
The Owls welcome back eight key returners, as well as adding eight newcomers, including four veteran transfers and four talented freshmen.
Excluding the shortened 2020 season, 2025 marks the sixth consecutive season the Owls have hosted their season-opening Florida Atlantic Invitational.
The Owls enter their 14^th season under the leadership of Head Coach Fernanda Nelson, who holds a 190-165 career record at the helm.
This weekend's matchups will mark the third all-time meeting between Florida Atlantic and Western Carolina, as well as the second matchups against Kent State and Texas Tech.

SCOUTING KENT STATE

Kent State finished 2-26 and 1-17 in MAC play, finishing last in the MAC in 2024.
The Golden Flashes enter their fourth season under head coach Haley Eckerman, who has recorded a 21-65 (.244) career record over her three seasons at Kent State.
The Golden Flashes return two of their top four pin hitters from a season ago, including their kills leader, Mackenzie McGuire, who led the team with 261 kills in 2024.
Kent State also brings back its digs leader in libero Greta Bolognini, who recorded a team-best 270 digs during the 2024 campaign.
Friday will mark the second all-time meeting between Florida Atlantic and Kent State. The Owls will face off against the Golden Flashes for the first time since 2008 as they look to earn their first win over Kent State after falling 3-2 in a five-set battle in their first and only meeting on Sept. 13, 2008.

SCOUTING TEXAS TECH

Texas Tech finished their 2024 season 14-16 overall and 6-12 in Big XII play.
Tech enters its 10^th season under head coach Tony Graystone, who boasts a 570-301 (.654) career record and a 130-136 (.489) mark at the helm in Lubbock.
The Red Raiders return six from their 2024 team, including four starters in Aliyah McDonald, Katelyn Cochran, Reagan Engler, and Emily Contreras, as well as Addie Kanouff and Jasmine Martin, who sat out the 2024 season due to injury. McDonald is the team's returning kills leader, recording 121 kills in 2024, as well as the team's returning blocks leader (96), points leader (179.0), and hitting percentage leader (.241).
Texas Tech adds nine freshmen for the 2025 season.
Friday will also mark the second all-time meeting between the Owls and the Red Raiders. Florida Atlantic will look to bounce back after dropping a four-set match, 3-1, in their first meeting last season.

SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA

Western Carolina went 8-21 overall and 2-13 in SoCon play, finishing eighth in the league last season.
The Catamounts enter their 15^th season under the direction of Head Coach Karen Glover, who boasts a 179-237 (.430) career record.
Western Carolina returns two of its top five pin hitters from their 2024 squad, led by Zoe Zudans and Janelle Blue. Zudans is the team's kills leader, finishing with a team fourth-best 177 kills, recording 1.95 kills per set, a season ago. Blue ranked fifth on the team last season, recording 156 kills, tallying 1.53 per set during the 2024 campaign.
Western Carolina also returns its leading setter, Katie Boney, who dished out 543 assists last season, averaging 5.72 per set, and it's digs leader, Eda Yalcinkaya, who tallied a team-best 404 digs, averaging 3.96 digs per set in 2024.
Florida Atlantic and Western Carolina are tied 1-1 all-time. In their last meeting, the Owls earned their first win over the Catamounts, taking a four-set win, 3-1, in 2016 to tie the series.

UP NEXT
Following their season-opening weekend, the Owls will remain at home as they host the North Florida Ospreys for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, Sept. 2. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic volleyball, follow @FAUVolleyball on X and Instagram, or like FAU Volleyball on Facebook.

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Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at South Florida on September 24, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus East Carolina on September 28, 2025 at 12 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus North Texas on October 3, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Temple on October 5, 2025 at 12 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Charlotte on October 10, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at East Carolina on October 12, 2025 at 12 p.m.

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Owls Open Season with Florida Atlantic Invitational

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