The second full week of AAC play has arrived. For the Owls it was inviting the Memphis Tigers (7-8) (1-2) to town. Memphis was a gracious guest as they fell to the Owls in sweeping fashion, 3-0.
It was all Owls to start set one as Florida Atlantic jumped out to an 8-3 lead before a Tigers timeout. Memphis fought back and brought the set within three; 13-10, before an Owls 3-point scoring run to extend the lead to six; 16-10. FAU had firm control of the set as Madison Dyer earned the kill to extend the lead to seven; 22-15. Memphis was not done, as the Tigers caused the Owls to call a timeout up four; 24-20, but FAU found the final point to win 25-20.
The Owls looked to continue their dominant pursuit of the Tigers going into set two. FAU did just that opening the set with a 9-3 lead before a Memphis timeout. Florida Atlantic kept their foot on the gas as they stretched their lead to nine; 15-6. A Natalie Depaula kill put gave the Owls their first double-digit lead of the match as Memphis called a timeout down 17-7. After a Tigers 3-0 scoring run, FAU responded with a 3-point scoring run of their own capped off by a Romina Cornelio kill (pictured above,
Angelina LaBelle); 22-11 Owls. The Owls held on to their huge advantage to win 25-15.
Florida Atlantic, looking for their fifth sweep of the season, had a close start to open set three as it was 4-4 before a Katelynn Robine kill gave sparked an Owls 3-point scoring run to earn the 7-5 advantage. Florida Atlantic stretched their lead to four before a Memphis timeout; 13-9. From the help of a 6-1 run FAU extended the lead to 18-10. The Owls were up 21-13, as Memphis called their final timeout of the match. The Owls gave no hope to the Tigers as FAU won the set 25-18, and the match 3-0.
Post-Game Remarks with Katelynn Robine:
Katelynn Robine had herself a day by recording 12 kills with a .522 hit%. The Owls as a team had 38 kills off of a .260 hit%. Coming into the match FAU ranked top 20 nationally in kills, and first in the American with 728. As a team the Owls had 33 assists, 30 of which came from Victoria Hensley. The Owls are also in first in the American in team assists. The Owls had four blocks, and Victoria Hensley led in digs with her total of 11 leading the team to a total of 42.
Florida Atlantic (10-5) (2-1) travels to Philadelphia for their match up against Temple (6-8) (0-2). Temple is currently in play against South Florida. This is the first of two meetings between FAU and Temple. The match is Oct. 6, at 1:00 P.M