Owls Win Hard-Fought Four-Set Battle Against Temple

Friday, October 2

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

9-5,2-1American

Temple

10-5,2-1American

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Temple	24	20	31	23	1
Fla. Atlantic	26	25	29	25	3

10/2/2026 11:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic volleyball team opened the weekend with a four-set victory over Temple, 3-1 (26-24, 25-20, 29-31, 25-23), in its first American Conference home match, on Friday at Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

With the win, the Owls improve to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in American play, while Temple falls to 10-5 overall and 2-1 in league play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After opening the match on a 5-2 run, the Owls extended their match-opening run to 13-8 to take a five-point advantage early. However, Temple answered back, scoring five unanswered to tie up the set at 13 and force FAU to call its first timeout of the match. Out of the break, Luye Marquez-Moreno and Sara Gamboa registered back-to-back kills to push the Owls back in front 15-13 at the first set technical break. Temple answered back, producing a 6-2 run to retake the lead 19-17, however, an Owl block from Anna Hartman and Sequoia Layne and a Temple setting error brought things back even at 19-19. After trading points through a 21-21 tie, another set of back-to-back kills from Marquez-Moreno and Gamboa pushed the Owls back in front 23-22. Temple challenged the Owls at 23-23 and 24-24, however, FAU capitalized on a Temple service error and added a kill from Hartman to capture the 26-24 win and take the opening 1-0 lead.

FAU opened the second on a 4-0 run, however, Temple responded with a 5-1 run to tie up the set at 5-5. But the Owls answered back to produce a 5-2 run to retake the lead 10-7 and spark a Temple timeout. Out of the break, Temple went on a run, outscoring FAU 8-1 to lead 15-11 at the technical timeout. Temple maintained a three-point advantage through a 20-17 lead, however, the Owls dominated the remainder of the second, rallying to keep the Owls of Temple scoreless through an 8-0 run to take the second 25-20 and the 2-0 lead.

The two squads battled back and forth to open the lead, leading to a tight 12-11 visiting Owls lead. Temple led 15-11 at the third set media break and maintained its four-point advantage through a 19-15 lead. The Owls of FAU battled back, going on a 5-1 run to lock the set back up at 20-20. FAU and Temple continued to trade blows, battling through a 29-29 tie, but Temple eventually closed the set 31-29 and force a fourth set, 2-1.

Temple took the early lead in the fourth, opening the frame on a 5-2 run, however, the Owls quickly answered back scoring four unanswered to retake the lead 6-5. The two sides once again battled back and forth, eventually leading to a tight 15-14 Temple lead at the fourth-set technical break. The visiting Owls extended its lead to four at 21-17, before the Owls once again rallied, scoring four unanswered to tie things up at 21 after another block from Hartman and Layne. The squads remained locked even through 23-23, however, FAU scored off back-to-back kills from Hartman and Gamboa to clinch the fourth, 25-23, and take the 3-1 win.

STATS & NOTES

Marquez-Moreno and Hartman led the way offensively for the Owls.
Marquez-Moreno recorded a season-best 17 kills, hitting .302, and tied a season-high 15 digs, while also adding four blocks, an assist, and an ace.
Hartman also posted double-figures for the Owls, scoring 13 kills on a .333 hitting clip, in addition to four blocks and two digs.
Maya Van Heyst led the Owls once again in assists, dishing out a match-best 43 assists, to go along with seven kills, six digs, and an ace.
Four Owls helped lead the Owls back row, registering double-figure digs. Kierstin Bevelle and Zoe Winford tied for a match-best 17 digs with Bevelle setting a new career-best and Winford tying her career-best, while Marquez-Moreno finished with 15 digs and Hart rounding out the group with 10 digs in the win.
Layne was a force at the net for the Owls, breaking her career-high that she set earlier this season, posting an impressive 10 blocks, including four solo, during the four-set win.
As a team, Florida Atlantic held advantages against Temple in service aces, 6-5, blocks, 13-11, and digs, 69-68.

GALLERY

Gallery: (10-3-2026) Florida Atlantic VB vs. Temple (Oct. 2)

PRESS CONFERENCE

UP NEXT
The Owls will close out the weekend on Sunday, Oct. 4 as they welcome the Rice Owls to Paradise for a 1 p.m. first serve on ESPN+ on Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

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