Owls Fall in American Opener

Wednesday, September 24

Tampa, Fla.

5 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

9-5,0-1American

South Florida

5-7,1-0American

Fla. Atlantic

South Fla.

9/24/2025 9:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic Owls dropped a four-set battle to the South Florida Bulls, 3-1, in their American Conference opener on Wednesday in Tampa.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Florida Atlantic opened the match on a 10-7 run to force South Florida to call an early timeout. The Owls maintained their momentum to extend the lead to five at 17-12 and spark the Bulls' second and final timeout of the first set. South Florida cut the deficit to three at 23-20, but the Owls scored on a Bull hitting error and an Erin Morrissey kill to secure the set one win, 25-21.

After battling through a 9-9 tie to open set two, the Bulls went on a 4-1 run to force the Owls' first timeout of the set, trailing 14-10. South Florida continued to hold the momentum out of the timeout with a 3-1 run to force the Owls to use their second and final timeout of the set at 17-11. FAU couldn't find an answer to the Bulls, who eventually took the second set, 25-16, to tie the match at one.

South Florida opened the third on a 5-0 run. Florida Atlantic battled back, going on an 8-4 run to cut the deficit to one at 9-8. However, the Bulls answered with three unanswered points to force the Owls into their final timeout of the third at 12-8. South Florida extended to 16-10, before the Owls rallied with a 10-5 run to cut the deficit back down to one at 21-20. The Bulls went on a 3-1 run before a kill from Anna Hartman and a Bull attack error pulled the Owls within one, 24-23. The Bulls closed out the set at 25-23 and took the 2-1 advantage.

Florida Atlantic opened the fourth with the advantage, but the Bulls answered with a 5-1 run to force another early Owl timeout. Following a 12-9 South Florida lead, the Owls scored four unanswered points to retake the lead at 13-12, following a Zoe Winford ace. The two squads battled back and forth as the Owls kept things within one late, 21-20, but the Bulls produced a 4-1 set-closing run to take the fourth 25-21 and end the four-set battle.

STATS & NOTES

Olivia Hart led the Owls with 11 kills, marking her ninth team-leading performance this season. She also added five digs, a block, and a service ace against the Bulls.
Emsley Venard dished out a team-best 21 assists, in addition to adding three digs and an ace.
Isabelle Northam led the Owls' back row with a team-best 14 digs.
Libby Ashline and Kayla Richardson tied for a match-high five blocks each, marking a career-best for Ashline.
As a team, the Owls dominated the Bulls in blocks, 12-5, and at the service line, out-acing South Florida, 8-4.
Coach Nelson sits one win shy of her 200th career win, holding a 199-170 (.539) career record.

UP NEXT
The Owls will now return to Paradise as they get set to open their American Conference home slate on Sunday, Sept. 28, welcoming the East Carolina Pirates for a 12 p.m. first serve inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

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