Owls Close Non-Conference Play Hosting Owls Paradise Classic

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic Owls conclude non-conference play this weekend, hosting the Owls Paradise Classic on Friday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Sept. 20 at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

The Owls open up the weekend on Friday, facing off against George Washington at noon and Stetson at 7 p.m., before closing out play on Saturday, hosting Bethune-Cookman in their Owls Paradise Classic finale at 1 p.m.

SCOUTING FLORIDA ATLANTIC

Florida Atlantic enters the final weekend of non-conference play at 6-4 overall. The Owls finished the UCF Invitational 1-2, earning a five-set win over Brown, but falling against Arkansas State, 3-0, and UCF, 3-1.
The Owls' offensive leaders are Olivia Hart, Erin Morrissey, and Anna Hartman. Hart leads the Owls with 112 kills, averaging 3.39 kills per set, while Morrissey and Hartman rank second and third on the team, averaging 2.83 and 2.52 kills per set, respectively.
Florida Atlantic's setters are Emsley Venard and Victoria Hensley. Venard leads the team with 207 assists, averaging 6.47 per set, while Hensley ranks second on the team with 163 assists, dishing out 4.94 assists per set.
The Owls' back row is anchored by libero Isabelle Northam, who boasts a team-best 132 digs, averaging 4.55 digs per set. Hart ranks second on the team in digs, tallying 103 and averaging 3.12 per set.
At the net, the Owls' blocking leader is Maggie Allred, recording a team-leading 1.16 blocks per set.

SERIES HISTORY

Friday will mark the first meeting between Florida Atlantic and George Washington.
The Friday nightcap will be the 47^th all-time meeting between the Owls and the Hatters. Florida Atlantic holds the 41-5 all-time lead, including a perfect 25-0 record in Boca Raton.
Saturday's weekend finale against Bethune-Cookman will be the 46^th meeting between Florida Atlantic and the Wildcats. The Owls own a perfect 45-0 record against Bethune-Cookman, including a perfect 27-0 record when playing in Boca Raton.

SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN

Bethune-Cookman enters the Owls Paradise Classic at 3-6 overall and is coming off a 1-2 weekend during the Bash at the Beach, earning a sweep against South Carolina State, but falling against Charleston Southern and Jacksonville.
The Wildcats are led offensively by Tiyanna Preston, Ariel Simmons, and Neveah Donahoe, averaging 2.06, 1.91, and 1.82 kills per set, respectively.
Bethune-Cookman's assist leaders are Nola Hemphill and Melissa Gonzalez, recording 5.09 and 3.24 assists per set.
Defensively, the Wildcats are led by Sthefany Carvalho, averaging 4.56 digs per set, while Kaleigh Williams leads the team at the net, recording 1.41 blocks per set.

SCOUTING GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington enters the Owls Paradise Classic at 5-4 overall and are fresh off a 3-0 weekend at the Battle of the Beltway, earning a four-set win against UMBC and a pair of sweeps over Loyola Maryland and Morgan State.
Taylor Treahy and Cayla Cogan lead the Buff and Blue offensively, averaging 3.27 and 3.0 kills per set, respectively.
The Buff and Blue run a 6-2 offense, led by setters Dilara Elmacioglu and Abby Markworth. Elmacioglu boasts a team-leading 5.61 assists per set, while Markworth is averaging a team second-best 4.61 assists per set.
GWU's back row is led by libero Reilly Heinrich, averaging 3.76 digs per set.
Cianna Tejada leads the Buff and Blue at the net, posting a team-high 1.02 blocks per set this season.

SCOUTING STETSON

Stetson enters the weekend at 3-6 on the season and is coming off a 2-1 weekend at the College of Charleston Invitational, earning wins over Quinnipiac, 3-1, and Youngstown State, 3-2, but falling against Charleston, 3-0.
The Hatters are led offensively by Zuzanna Bury, averaging 3.75 kills per set.
Nyah Molina is Stetson's leading setter, dishing out a team-best 8.17 assists per set.
Molina also leads the team in digs, averaging 3.47 digs per set, while Libero Vitoria Stedile ranks second on the team with 3.37 digs per set.
Kayla Balfour is the Hatters' blocking leader, recording 1.03 blocks per set this season.

UP NEXT
Following the Owls Paradise Classic, Florida Atlantic will open up American play on the road as the Owls head to Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Sept. 24, for a midweek matchup against the South Florida Bulls. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET inside the Corral.

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