The Owls took a trip to San Antonio to face off against UTSA (9-18, 3-11 AAC). A struggling Roadrunners squad were playing their last home game so it was Senior Day at the Convocation Center. That was all the momentum needed to gain a dominant victory against FAU in a sweeping fashion.
After jumping to a 4-1 lead, the Owls gave up five straight points as UTSA took a 6-4 advantage early in the first. The lead traded hands until an 11-11 tie. At the media timeout the Roadrunners led 15-13. Out of the break, UTSA went on a 4-1 run to take a 19-14 lead as FAU called two timeouts during the time trying to slow down the Roadrunners. UTSA’s dominant set turned into a victory as the Roadrunners ran away with set one: 25-19.
UTSA opened the second set with a 9-5 lead. The Owls responded with a 6-1 as Valeria Rosado’s (pictured below, Angelina LaBelle) kill gave FAU an 11-10 lead. The Roadrunners took the advantage and gained a three-point lead at 17-14 before a Florida Atlantic timeout. A Victoria Hensley kill closed the set within two at 22-20 in favor of UTSA, but the Roadrunners closed out the set to earn their second set victory at 25-21.
It was rally time for FAU, but the Roadrunners held strong as early neither team could find separation at 9-9 in the third set. UTSA then scored three straight forcing the Owls to call a timeout trailing 12-9. Thanks to a 7-1 run, the Roadrunners jumped out to a six point advantage at 17-11. A Madison Dyer service ace helped the Owls bring the set within four as UTSA called a timeout to thwart any run coming from FAU: 18-14. The Roadrunners ran away with the remainder of the set, 25-19, sweeping the Owls on senior day in San Antonio.
Florida Atlantic’s Rosado led the match in kills with her total of 13, the Owls had a total of 38. The looming number for FAU was their hit percentage. As a squad the Owls had a .150 hit% compared to UTSA’s .283 hit%. Victoria Hensley (top picture, Angelina LaBelle) led the way in assists with her total of 21. Olivia Hart led in digs with eight as the Owls gained 37, and FAU only had three blocks on the day.
The remainder of play for the weekend has yet to close, but Florida Atlantic sits sixth in the AAC. The top eight teams make the conference tournament come the end of next week. Loses by Tulane, Memphis, and UAB will help the Owls. As of now FAU controls their destiny thanks to playing both UAB and Tulane. Winning one game next weekend will almost guarantee an Owls berth in the tournament.
The final regular season matches will be held in Boca Raton for Florida Atlantic (15-11, 7-7 AAC). UAB (10-14, 5-8 AAC) will come to Paradise after their match against Rice. UAB has had their struggles on the road as they sit at 1-6 this season, while FAU owns the best home record at 11-2 this season. The Owls and Blazers are slated for action at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.